If you are reading this because of a prenatal diagnosis that indicates your baby may die before or soon after birth, our hearts go out to you. The Perinatal Comfort Care team is here to be of support to you and your family through this difficult time. We are dedicated to embracing parents who have made the decision to continue their pregnancy and wish to spend every precious moment with their baby.
Expecting a new baby is a time filled with excitement, anticipation and hope for the future. However, for parents who have been given a prenatal diagnosis that their baby may be born with a life-threatening condition, this can be a time filled with heartbreak and uncertainty. Parents who choose to continue the pregnancy may find themselves alone with limited information and resources. Other family members may also be facing their own unique struggles. In response to the need for more specialized perinatal care, St. Joseph Hospice - in collaboration with St. Joseph Hospital - has developed a Perinatal Hospice Program to help you and your family through this time of uncertainty. You do not have to walk alone.
Here are some comments from parents who have been through this experience and leaned on the Perinatal Comfort Care Program for support:
“We could never imagine going through what we went through without the help of the Perinatal Comfort Care program.”
“We will never be able to repay what this program has done for us and we are very grateful.”
“Everyone at Perinatal Comfort Care was very nice, helpful and understanding. I am grateful that my OBGYN recommended the program. All our wishes were respected and carried through which made us very at ease. I would recommend this program to any parent going through this situation.”
“The Perinatal Comfort Care was such a blessing to our family.”
Meet the Perinatal Comfort Care (PCC) Team
- Medical Director E. Peter Anzaldo, M.D. - Click here for more details
- The Program Coordinator admits the parents to the PCC program, facilitates communication with the hospital staff, attends the Perinatal Conference at the hospital and coordinates the PCC team.
- The Clinical Social Worker
completes the initial assessment, provides psychosocial support and counseling to the family. The Social Worker assists parents in developing a holistic Birthing Plan and referrals to community resources. The Social Worker will also provide opportunities for the parents and family to participate in memory making.
- The Chaplain provides a spiritual assessment and collaborates with the parents to establish a care plan to meet the spiritual needs of all family members. The Chaplain helps families find purpose and meaning in the lifetime of their baby. The Chaplain is also available to facilitate blessings, baptism and other rituals.
- The Music Therapist provides an assessment and care plan to meet the psychosocial needs of the family. Through music, the Therapist is available to assist family members in bonding with their baby and exploring their feelings regarding the birth and possible death of their baby.
- A Nurse is available in a volunteer capacity to provide education and support to parents and family members to better understand their baby’s diagnosis and what to expect at the time of birth and aftercare.
- Volunteers are available to assist the family by providing emotional support and respite.
Our PCC team, along with the mother’s obstetrician and hospital staff, collaborate to provide comprehensive care from the time of diagnosis through bereavement.