Perinatal Hospice: A Fruitful Story
By Tammy Ruiz
It is becoming more common in our society for hospitals to offer some
sort of organized support for women and families through the experience
of Perinatal Death (pregnancy loss, stillbirth, neonatal death and
SIDS). Less common are programs where a pre-existing system of support
exists for those who receive the diagnosis of an unavoidably life
limiting condition for their baby (and opt to maintain the pregnancy).
In the literature, it is called “Perinatal Hospice.” When I started our
program 6 years ago, it was one of only 40 in the world and now there
are over 150 (go to PerinatalHospice.org
for info). I work with moms/parents/families to help them navigate the
tricky steps of the pregnancy, birth and resolution/healing time.
They have taught me so very much.
I have come to see that there is an almost predictable pattern in how
they perceive their experience and I walk a tight-rope of respecting
how they feel right at this minute with the sage wisdom that their
perceptions of their whole experience will evolve greatly over time. It
reinforces my own life experiences that we often change what and how we
think of our trials as we continue living and growing.
Below is an essay written Julie who I came to know in the course of
preparing for the birth of her child. Her story became a story that we
shared and I think there is much to learn in it.
Tammy Ruiz has been a Nurse for 28 years and spent most of her career in
Neonatal Intensive Care. For 8 years, she has been a Perinatal
Bereavement Coordinator - caring for women and families suffering
miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death and SIDS. Part of her work
involves assisting parents in preparing for births when the baby has
received the diagnosis of a life limiting condition (often called
"Perinatal Hospice").
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