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Perinatal Hospice & Bereavement

515-358-3000

When faced with the potential death of a newborn or stillborn birth, parents may feel unprepared for the emotions they find themselves experiencing.

Know that the feelings of loss, grief, anger and distance from those closest to you are normal and MercyOne Des Moines has created a support system to help address your questions, navigate decisions,  provide you with resources, mementos and gentle support.

“There are cycles and movement of grief.  As seasons change so do feelings.  There is water and there are tears, there is winter and there is spring, there is sadness and there is hope.”  - Rana Limbo, RTS Resolve Through Sharing.

For more information about the Maternal Child Bereavement Program, please call MercyOne Maternity Services at 515-358-3000.

Perinatal Hospice

MercyOne’s Perinatal Hospice program is for you and your family, to help guide you through this difficult time and let you know that you are not alone.

If you are reading this, you may feel as if your world has just been turned upside down. You probably have many questions.

  • Why me? Why my baby?
  • How can it be that my baby will not survive?
  • How can I make it to tomorrow, much less to the end of this pregnancy?
  • What do I tell my family?

We want to help you through this most difficult of times. We understand the love that you have for this baby. From that love will come the strength and courage you need to make it through. The Perinatal Hospice Program is here for you and your family, to help guide you through the anger, the pain and the grief that will at times seem too much to bear.

You are not alone in your grief. Each year one of every 100 newborns has medical problems severe enough to cause death. These problems are not of your doing, but rather occur for reasons as yet unknown. We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we will provide the support and help that you need to find comfort at this difficult time.

Coping with Grief

The path that you are on is not one that you chose. You might have numbness or feelings of guilt. You might have feelings of jealousy and pain. You might have confusion or disorientation. You might have anger. You may not know where to begin. We want you to know that we are here to support you in ways that are helpful to you and your loved ones.

What can we do?

  • We are here to be by your side.
  • We are here to be a shoulder of support.
  • We are here to listen and explore with you.
  • We are here to look for answers with you.
  • We are here to teach you about delivery expectations and make a plan for the birth.
  • We are here to discuss your concerns about the care of your child.
  • We are here to address questions you might have that regard financial burdens.

“Each phase in my journey allows me to explore where I am right now. By accepting that I am where I must need to be, I am free to live today. “- Dr. Alan Wolfelt

MercyOne's Walk to Remember

Like many activities in 2020, MercyOne Perinatal Hospice and Bereavement’s Walk to Remember will have some changes. This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to host our annual family in-person event. However, on Sunday, Oct. 11, MercyOne Maternity, Postpartum, & NICU colleagues will walk for our families and their babies who have died through  miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth or newborn death – as a part of the National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October

Prior to the walk, we will place special keepsakes for our babies in the Memory Garden on the MercyOne Des Moines campus, where the timeless love of our children will be honored at the Christmas Box Angel statue. If you still wish to have a keepsake with your child’s name placed in the garden, you are welcome to call Connie Thompson at 515-358-3030 or Terry Simms at 515-358-4084, ext. 1 and leave a message. A request can also be emailed to Connie at CThompson2@mercydesmoines.org. These keepsakes will be available for pickup any time after October, the month honoring Pregnancy & Infant Loss.     

We will try to share video of the walk on MercyOne Des Moines’ social media sites including Facebook and YouTube following the walk. We will pray for the ability to gather together again to honor our children in October 2021. 

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