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Arkansas Long-Term Resources

July 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

(go back)

 

Please also visit:

Groups:

 

 

Organizations:

  • M.E.N.D. – NW Arkansas
    Dr. April Morenton
    1955 Montclair Avenue
    Siloam Springs, AR 72761
    Phone: (479) 238-4505
    Email:april@mend.org
    Website:www.mend.org
  • Operation Angel
    Ms. Jo Ann Taylor
    74 CR 302
    Mountain Home, AR 72653-8332
    Phone: (870) 424-7500
    Fax: (870) 425-6025
    Email:ofm@mymountainhome.com
    Website: http://fly.to/OperationAngel
    Services: Offers a healing packet for Stillbirth, Miscarriage and SIDS literature.Religious support. Speaks only English nationwide
  • Arkansas Dept. of Health
    Ms. Jackie Whitfield
    SIDS Program Coordinator
    4815 West Markham
    Slot#H17
    Little Rock, AR 72205
    Phone: (501) 280-4756
    Fax: (501) 280-4082
    Email: jwhitfield@healthyarkansas.com
    Services: bereavement support, provides a visit from a public health nurse. Pays for SIDS Autopsy with limited funds

 

Books, Websites and More:

Please be sure to visit the immediate emotional health resources that include crisis hotlines, websites, and books on bereavement.

 

To add your listing, please submit your information and it will be added to the site.  This website does not endorse (nor is it liable to) any individual or business, and contracts and arrangements will be made on an individual basis.

 

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Arizona Long-Term Resources

July 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

(go back)

Please also visit:

Groups:

 

Organizations:

  • Arizona SIDS Foundation
    6542 N. Maryland Circle
    Phoenix, AZ 85001
    Phone: (602) 433-7437
    Email: info@azsidsf.org
  • Arizona Department of Health Services
    Ms. Jamie Smith
    Bureau of Women’s & Childrens
    150 N. 18th Avenue, Suite 320
    Phoenix, AZ 85007
    Phone: (602) 542-1875
    Fax: (602) 542-1843
    Email: smith@azdhs.gov
    Website: www.hs.state.az.us/cfhs/azcf/sids.htm
    Services: Bereavement & Stillbirth support though the MISS Foundation.

 

Books, Websites and More:

Please be sure to visit the immediate emotional health resources that include crisis hotlines, websites, and books on bereavement.

 

To add your listing, please submit your information and it will be added to the site.  This website does not endorse (nor is it liable to) any individual or business, and contracts and arrangements will be made on an individual basis.

 

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Alaska Long-Term Resources

July 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

(go back)

Please also visit:

 

Groups:

 

Organizations:

Books, Websites and More:

Please be sure to visit the immediate emotional health resources that include crisis hotlines, websites, and books on bereavement.

 

To add your listing, please submit your information and it will be added to the site.  This website does not endorse (nor is it liable to) any individual or business, and contracts and arrangements will be made on an individual basis.

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Alabama Long-Term Resources

July 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

(go back)

Please also visit:

 

 

Groups:

Organizations:

  • MISS Foundation
    Debra Walker
    Birmingham, AL
    Phone: (205) 229-9742
  • The Amelia Center
    Ms. Stephanie Elson, Counselor/Groups and Resources Coordinator
    1513 Fourth Avenue South
    Birmingham, Alabama 35233
    Phone: 205-251-3430 | Fax: 205-251-5146
    Email: Stephanie.Elson@chsys.org
    Website: www.ameliacenter.org
    Services: individual counseling & support groups, stillbirth & miscarriage services, limited bilingual services & materials, and serves central Alabama.
  • The International Society for the Study of Trauma & Dissociation has an emphasis on therapist guided psychotherapy and a resource list to locate one near you.

Books, Websites and More:

Please be sure to visit the immediate emotional health resources that include crisis hotlines, websites, and books on bereavement.

 

To add your listing, please submit your information and it will be added to the site.  This website does not endorse (nor is it liable to) any individual or business, and contracts and arrangements will be made on an individual basis.

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National Long-Term Resources

July 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Legal

Websites

 

Information:

  • Please visit our International Long Term Resource list for additional organizations and groups resources that provide support in other countries, in addition to resources available throughout the world, such as books and crisis hotlines.
  • Please visit your state listing for additional long term resources and support.

To add your listing, please submit your information and it will be added to the site.

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International Long-Term Resources

July 25, 2011 by 1 Comment

This section includes crisis hotlines first, as well as other resources on bereavement including: books, websites, and services that are not location dependent.  You can return to our long term resources general page to also find local and national support in addition to these resources.

.

Emergency & Crisis Phone Support

Books

Websites

& Internationally Serving Life Coaches & Counselors

Facebook (these are only a few of several groups/pages)

Other Online Forums (typing in real time)

Newsletters

  • M.E.N.D. (Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death)
  • U.T.P.A.I.L. (United through Pregnancy and Infant Loss)

Mentorship/Online Groups

Other International Long-Term Resources

Specific to Countries/Regions outside of USA

  • Towards Tomorrow Together provides butterfly boxes to hospitals and individuals, in addition to therapy support resources – UK
  • Led by the Chaplaincy from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, a special memorial service is open to all parents and families who have lost a baby or child, no matter how long ago.  To reserve a place, please contact  01603 811556 or e-mail info.colney@greenacreswb.co.uk.  UK
  • Lyssa Clayton – homeopathy and flower essences for grief – lyssa.clayton@yahoo.co.uk – Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
  • So Go and Run Free – offers memory boxes and additional support in the Highlands area, UK
  • SiMBA – events and projects in the UK
  • Schmetterlingskinder – online support and information for pregnancy loss – Germany
  • Initiative Regenbogen – parents supporting parents through loss – Germany
  • Feileacain  – Ireland
  • Angel Babies Foundation offers counseling support in Australia
  • Teddy Love Club offers bereavement support in Australia
  • SANDS – Australia offers resources and support
  • Compassionate Friends has local resources in several countries (just click your country)

To add your listing, please submit your information and it will be added to the site.

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Natural Miscarriage

July 25, 2011 by 6 Comments

Natural miscarriage means waiting for the miscarriage to complete on its own.  A benefit to miscarrying naturally is knowing for certain that your baby in fact has died (see concerns with D&C).  It also allows you to spend time gathering your feelings and processing the transition from experiencing hopes and joy to experiencing loss.   A common concern that your medical provider may have about you miscarrying naturally, is is the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.  The risk  of complications of a natural miscarriage is increased, the older the baby was when he or she died.  Generally, studies indicate that approximately 70% of mothers who miscarry naturally do so without unexpected complications.  Natural miscarriage is safest if the baby’s gestational age is younger than 10 weeks.  If you and your medical provider have both determined that natural miscarriage would be a safe option for you, it is important to know what to expect and how to prepare yourself.

If at any time you fill a maxi pad sooner than a half hour, experience dizziness, tingling in your hands or feet, or a racing heart (or any of these even with light bleeding), you should consult a medical professional immediately.

Please use our customized birth plan for natural miscarriage.

How far along are you?  Would you like to see the last developments of your baby?

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Artificial Induction (Medication)

July 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Medication can help stimulate labor, and allow you to birth your baby.

These are a few common medications that are used to help deliver miscarried babies, and they may be given separately or in conjuction with each other:

  • mifepristone
  • misoprostol
  • methylergometrine (methergine)

Mifepristone blocks a hormone (progesterone) from completing its pregnancy function of supporting the uterine lining that the baby has been growing in.  This will stop your body’s efforts of sustaining the pregnancy.  In some cases, this will be enough to trigger “permission” to your body to begin expelling the placenta and delivering your baby.

Misoprostol (a prostaglandin) causes your uterus to contract, so that your baby can be delivered.  “Cytotec” is one prescription name used, and misoprostol is said to have about an 80-90% effectiveness rate in delivering miscarried babies and completely expelling all of the placenta pieces.

Methergine helps to control excessive bleeding and can cause your uterus to contract, so that your baby can be delivered.

You may be asked to stay at the hospital to deliver your baby, or you may be permitted to deliver your baby at home.  This will depend on the age of your baby, and other factors including your hospital’s policies.

Using labor stimulating medication to help with the delivery of your baby in early pregnancy is generally considered a medically safe approach, one that doesn’t have the possible adverse side effects as more medically involved births.  In rare instances, medication does not deliver the entire placenta, and more medically assisted support (D&C) may be needed to help completely deliver the placenta.

When using a labor stimulant to help in the delivery of a very young baby, you should expect to see a heavier blood discharge than your menstrual period, and possibly small tissue-like pieces of uterine lining.  Your baby’s placenta, as it detaches from your uterine wall, is very soft and will most likely break into smaller pieces.  By the eighth week of pregnancy, the placenta is about the size of a peach, and by the twelfth week it’s about the size of a pear, and so the pieces as it is delivered may roughly be the size of grapes.

Your doctor will discuss with you the side effects and warning signs to look out for when taking induction medication, including fever, too much bleeding (hemorrhage), and the amount of time it should take to complete the entire process.

Generally, you will probably be cautioned that filling a regular-absorbancy maxi pad sooner than one hour, at any time, is cause of concern; immediately postpartum (that is, right after the baby is born), generally speaking you should not fill a regular-absorbancy maxi pad sooner than a half-hour in the first hour (so, you can go through 2 pads in the first hour postpartum), as it is common to experience some increased bleeding at the actual time of delivery.

Besides medication to help stimulate labor, other options to assist in the dilation of your cervix may include seaweed laminaria or the use of a Foley catheter.  The Foley catheter (sometimes called Foley ball or bulb) will manually dilate your cervix; this is not a medication but is instead a tool/instrument.  Your doctor will insert the Foley into your vagina and the process  can be uncomfortable but should resemble a vaginal exam.  The ball has a small tube at the end of it.  After the ball is in place, the doctor will fill up the ball like a balloon.  The sensations from the Foley vary to feeling bloated, crampy, to a feeling of having tetanic (constant) contractions.  As you dilate large enough, the Foley will fall out.   Each of these options can help dilate your cervix to approximately 3 or 4 centimeters, which should be enough for early pregnancy loss.  Pregnancy losses that occur later in pregnancy may be supplemented by the use of Pitocin to continue to dilate the cervix for birth.

Your doctor will discuss these options with you according to your unique situation.

If at any time you fill a maxi pad sooner than a half hour, experience dizziness, tingling in your hands or feet, or a racing heart (or any of these even with light bleeding), you should consult a medical professional immediately.

If you are hoping to be able to find and identify your baby, the chances are increased if you have a general understanding of what to expect to find.  The following links will take you to information on the stages of development and the size of the baby.

The induced birth of your miscarried baby can be experienced more positively by incorporating your own birth plan.

How far along are you?

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D&C

July 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

If your doctor has recommended a D&C to help deliver your baby, the very first thing to consider is changing the perspective you may have about this approach.

Many mothers have very strong objections to having a D&C performed because of the comparison to an elective abortion.

A D&C is a way to medically assist in the delivery of a baby.  The medical operation is the same if the baby is alive or not.  But, the operation itself is not abortion.  It is a medical way to assist in the delivery of your baby.  If this method is needed, perhaps it might be more healing for you to consider it more of a “vaginal Cesarean“, in that the doctor is going to manually assist in the delivery of your tiny baby.

Another thing you may consider, is that some women recall feeling doubt or uncertainty that their child had in fact died prior to the D&C.  This doubt is part of the grieving process, and is normal.  But it can be terribly difficult to move past any feelings of doubt or uncertainty after the D&C has been performed.  For this reason, I strongly suggest utilizing any ultrasound or doppler device that you can prior to the D&C.  Perhaps contact a local crisis pregnancy center to see if they offer free ultrasounds.  This extra step can provide you with the certainty you need in knowing that you are not “electively aborting” your baby.  Remember, a D&C does not mean elective abortion.

The third thing to consider, is asking your provider if artificial induction may be a simpler, safer way to deliver your baby, or if natural miscarriage would also be a safe alternative for your unique situation.  Sometimes, a doctor will plan for a D&C simply because it can be easier on you than trying to really navigate different approaches.  Even if your doctor has recommended a D&C, it might be a good idea to just mention the option of artificial induction, and allow your provider to discuss your options with you so that you can have the safest delivery of your baby possible.  D&C can have possible long term side effects (including on your future fertility), so please ask your provider to be very clear about explaining these to you.

Now, with all of that said, a D &C (sometimes mistakenly called a DNC) is a method of delivery, which includes medically assisted dilation of your cervix, and the use of a medical instrument called a curettage, which is applied onto the endometrium within your uterus; it is this tool by which the medically assisted birth of your baby will take place.  The D & C is a birth method used most often in miscarriages between 10 and 12 weeks (after which point a D&E may be suggested).  It may also be used if a miscarriage had not completed naturally (any placenta fragments remain in the uterus).

You may be given an antibiotic and/or pain medication, and physical recovery may include spotting for several days.  Your birth plan for this method will include additional information.  Generally, it is best to not plan on conceiving again until after you have had the first subsequent menstrual cycle, to ensure that your uterus is completely clear; waiting at least a week to introduce anything into your vagina (tampons, intercourse) is also recommended.  Your provider will discuss these things with you.

You can make this birth method more meaningful by incorporating your own birth plan.

How far along are you?  Would you like to see your baby’s last developments?

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D&E

July 25, 2011 by 2 Comments

If your doctor has recommended a D&E to help deliver your baby, the very first thing to consider is changing the perspective you may have about this approach.

Many mothers have very strong objections to having a D&E performed because of the comparison to an elective abortion.

A D&E is a way to medically assist in the delivery of a baby.  The medical operation is the same if the baby is alive or not.  But, the operation itself is not abortion.  It is a medical way to assist in the delivery of your baby.  If this method is needed, perhaps it might be more healing for you to consider it more of a “vaginal Cesarean“, in that the doctor is going to manually assist in the delivery of your tiny baby.

Another thing you may consider, is that some women recall feeling doubt or uncertainty that their child had in fact died prior to the D&E.  This doubt is part of the grieving process, and is normal.  But it can be terribly difficult to move past any feelings of doubt or uncertainty after the D&E has been performed.  For this reason, I strongly suggest utilizing any ultrasound or doppler device that you can prior to the D&E.  Perhaps contact a local crisis pregnancy center to see if they offer free ultrasounds.  This extra step can provide you with the certainty you need in knowing that you are not “electively aborting” your baby.  Remember, a D&E does not mean elective abortion.

The third thing to consider, is asking your provider if artificial induction may be a simpler, safer way to deliver your baby.  Sometimes, a doctor will plan for a D&E (or a D&C, which is a different birth method that may also be an option to ask about) simply because it can be easier on you than trying to really navigate different approaches.  Even if your doctor has recommended a D&E, it might be a good idea to just mention the option of artificial induction, and allow your provider to discuss your options with you so that you can have the safest delivery of your baby possible.

Now, with all of that said, a D &E (sometimes mistakenly called a DNE) is a method of delivery, used most often in inevitable or missed miscarriages, or for miscarriages that occur later in the second trimester, after your baby’s bones have begun to harden (approximately at 16 weeks or older).  It may also be used if a miscarriage had not completed naturally (any placenta fragments remain in the uterus).  It is a combination of the D&C birth method, with additional delivery tools used, such as forceps, to help deliver your baby.  We include additional information regarding this in our birth plan, where you might consider what questions or options you may have and create a dialogue with your trusted care provider about ways to learn the gender of your baby, physical characteristics, or anything else that might be of emotional value to you.

You may be given an antibiotic and/or pain medication, and physical recovery may include spotting for several days.  Your birth plan for this method will include additional information.  Generally, it is best to not plan on conceiving again until after you have had the first subsequent menstrual cycle, to ensure that your uterus is completely clear; waiting at least a week to introduce anything into your vagina (tampons, intercourse) is also recommended.  Your provider will discuss these things with you.

You can make this birth method more meaningful by incorporating your own birth plan.

How far along are you?  Would you like to see your baby’s last developments?

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Here at stillbirthday.info, you can learn about the SBD® Doula.