Infant Loss Support

The loss of an infant, no matter how much time you had with them, or how far along you were in your pregnancy, is devastating for many. If you and your family experience this type of loss, we want you to know we’re here to help during this painful time.

At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, our compassionate team of obstetricians, nurses, social workers and mental health professionals aim to provide families dealing with the loss of an infant with resources to help them cope. We also offer services to help you connect with other parents and families going through a similar experience.

While everyone grieves differently, you don’t have to be alone in your grief. We’re here to offer any support you may need while still in the hospital and beyond.

Who do we help?

While we offer varying levels of services and support, the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center wants to be a resource for anyone who’s ever experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Some of the people we serve include those who’ve experienced:

• A miscarriage or pregnancy loss
• A stillbirth
• The birthing of a living child who dies shortly after birth

Some of the people we care for are aware they’ll experience a stillbirth or have a child that will most likely pass away soon after childbirth. But for many more families, these losses are not anticipated. Our providers’ unique expertise, training and compassion for managing these types of births can be invaluable to people who need this highly specialized care.

Our services and resources for families experiencing infant loss

For grieving families still in the hospital, we understand just how difficult this time can be. Because of this, we offer:

• Private rooms in a quieter part of the Labor and Delivery unit
• 24/7 access to a non-denominational chaplain trained in this type of loss. Specialized chaplain services are also available for members of the Christian, Catholic, Muslim and Jewish faiths.
• Ability to receive keepsake items, such as handprints, teddy bears and memory boxes
• Photography through Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a volunteer organization
• Lactation support specific to mothers who’ve had a stillbirth or lost an infant (call 614-293-8910 for care)
• Patient education for postpartum care tailored to women whose babies have passed away
• Social workers to help manage financial assistance, burials, paperwork, access to community resources and other related tasks
• Mental health care from our Women’s Behavioral Health specialists and experts in grief
• Separate bereavement team for our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) 
• Invitations to annual memorial events honoring and remembering your baby

Access to talk therapy and other services through our award-winning Mental and Behavioral Health team are available whenever you need it in the weeks, months and even years following your loss.

Community resources for infant loss support

Because we know grief doesn’t end when you leave the hospital, we’ve built relationships with many community organizations that provide resources to those dealing with pregnancy or infant loss. These community and online resources include:

• Sufficient Grace Ministries – Emergent support for those who experience an infant loss
• Cap4Kids – A central Ohio organization that provides support for infant and child loss
• Postpartum Support International – Loss and grief support during pregnancy and postpartum

Support groups for infant loss

It can be helpful to connect with others who’ve experienced infant loss. Here are some recommended support groups:

• Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support
• Mental Health America of Ohio Perinatal Loss Drop-in Peer Support
• Rachel’s Gift Men’s Only Support Group

If you experience a stillbirth or infant loss while at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, our team wants to support you in any way possible.

Some of our Ob/Gyn staff members have gone through extra training with Resolve Through Sharing, which is recognized for its evidence-based, compassion-first bereavement programming. Others have a passion for helping families during this difficult time, including some who’ve experienced their own pregnancy or infant losses.

We provide supportive expertise in medical decision-making while emphasizing the importance of each individual family's goals and values.

Giving back and honoring memories

Often, families ask us for ways to give back or donate in honor of their babies. There are many things you can do to help other families, including:

• Breast milk donation – Many mothers choose to donate breast milk after the loss of an infant as a way to honor their babies.
• Bear donation – The local nonprofit organization Carrying Tender Angels, Inc., graciously provides teddy bears to parents experiencing a stillbirth or infant loss to take home from the hospital. If you're interested in supporting this cause, call 614-321-9282 or email info@carryingtenderangels.org.
• Bereavement boxes – Saylor's Light donates bereavement boxes to our hospital, and we encourage anyone wanting to give back to think about this organization.
• Commemorative and memorial tree and benches – You can support this program at Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens.