Infant Loss and Bereavement

Pregnancy Loss - The unintentional and spontaneous death of an unborn baby (fetus) at any time during pregnancy. Pregnancy loss includes an embryonic pregnancy, a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, a molar pregnancy and/or a stillbirth. A pregnancy loss prior to 20 weeks gestation is often referred to as a miscarriage or a spontaneous abortion, while a pregnancy loss greater than 20 completed weeks is often referred to as a stillbirth or fetal death.

Infant Loss - The loss of any anticipated life, whether it is during a pregnancy or the time following delivery.

Neonatal Death - When a baby dies in the first 28 days of life. There are many reasons that cause a neonatal death including prematurity, low birth weight, and birth defects.

Live Birth - A baby born alive at delivery that is evident by means of a heart rate, pulsation of the umbilical cord, spontaneous breathing, and/or voluntary muscle movement regardless of gestational age.

Perinatal Hospice and Palliative Care - A compassionate model of support that embraces the philosophy of hospice and palliative care. This program is designed for parents who choose to continue their pregnancy following a prenatal diagnosis that indicates their baby has a life-limiting condition. This approach is multidisciplinary and individualized for each family.

What to expect

• You will be provided with medication that will start your labor. This process generally produces pain. You are able to choose the pain relief options that best suit your comfort level at this time. 

• The staff will provide you with a special comfort cart to allow for privacy in the room. 

• You will be asked to make decisions around burial or cremation.

• You will be asked if you want special mementos from your delivery. 

• We encourage you to rest and spend quality time with those you wish to be present at this time. 

• Photography is always an option. We partner with a service that can support you locally. 

What to bring to the hospital 

• You may bring anything that is comforting to you and your family while in the facility. 

• You may choose to have family with you throughout your stay. 

• You may bring clothes or special items for your baby. 

• You may bring items to capture special moments with your family such as photos, books, music, and etc.. 

Labor 

• You may follow your original birth plan as the provider allows. This would include hydrotherapy, etc.. 

Baptism: A Chaplain from the facility or a Community Faith Representative of the family may provide a baptism, in a health care setting, in emergent situations.

Blessing: A Chaplain from the facility or a Community Faith Representative of the family may provide A Rite for Naming, Blessing, and Commending a Baby to God may be provided in the event the newborn was born and a Baptism is unable to be performed.  

Our hearts go out to you at this difficult time. It may be hard to make important decisions. We want to make sure you know all of your options for disposition. Although it is difficult to discuss, you have the right to pick how and where your baby is laid to rest,  whether privately through a mortuary of your choice or through hospital burial.

Private Burial/Creamation at a Mortuary (Cremation/Burial)

You may choose individual burial or cremation, no matter how early or how far along you were in your pregnancy. However, you must choose this option if your baby was alive at the time of delivery. Most people choose a funeral home to help make individual arrangements. Please ask if you would like help finding a funeral home.

• For parents who choose a private burial, you will choose a private mortuary to cremate or bury your baby. 
• Any baby born alive must be cremated or buried through a mortuary. Please see campus for specific resources for options if you would need to select one.
• Any remains believed by the parents or the provider to be fetal tissue or products of conception will be treated with respect allowing you to choose a private mortuary to either cremate or bury your baby.

Artful Ashes is a wonderful piece of glass artwork that captures the life of your baby following the cremation process.

• For parents who choose hospital burial, each campus will hold a service. While we are a Catholic organization, the service is non-denominational and open to families of any faith tradition. This service is a communal burial, meaning your baby will be placed in a casket with other babies. 
• See local campus information on burial services, below.
• A baby born alive will not be able to be placed in the hospital for burial. 
• Any remains believed by the parents or the provider to be fetal tissue or products of conception will be treated in a similar manner and may be placed in the hospital service.  
• Any fetal death or stillbirth of any gestation will be treated in a similar manner  and may be placed in the hospital service.

Undecided

If you are undecided and do not inform the hospital of your choice for disposition within fourteen days, the hospital will include the remains in the hospital burial. If you would like to speak to someone regarding the above information, please ask the clinic staff to contact Pastoral Care.

Celebration of Life Memorial Service 

Each year the facility will celebrate the life of your baby, regardless of length of pregnancy or time on earth through a Memorial Service or Walk-of-Life. CHI Health will send an invitation to your home a few weeks prior to the service. The nurse will review the opinion with you in the hospital or clinic and you will be able to decline an invitation. 

CHI Health Certificate of Life

CHI health provides you with a certificate in memory of your baby upon discharge regardless of length of pregnancy or time on earth.

The State of Nebraska has passed a few laws to help recognize and validate the birth of your baby by way of passing. For more information on certificates please visit the Nebraska Department of Health & Human services website.

• Commemorative Certificate of Nonviable Birth: This certificate applies to any spontaneous fetal demise, miscarriage, which has occurred prior to twenty weeks gestation. A health care practitioner shall verify the loss by signing the Worksheet for Nonviable Birth Commemorative Certificate, filled out by the parent(s). The completed worksheet shall be sent to the state to request the certificate, along with the Application for Commemorative Certificate of Nonviable Birth. For more information with regards to this certificate, please visit the Nebraska Department of Health & Human services website, link provided above. As with any certified certificate, there will be a small fee applied from the state to obtain the certificate.

• Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth: This applies to any stillbirth, baby born with no signs of life that has reached 20 weeks or more weeks of gestation. If you choose a hospital burial we will complete the documentation and file it with the State of Nebraska. If you choose a private burial with a mortuary the hospital will complete the documentation and send it with your baby to the mortuary, where they will file it with the State of Nebraska. Please use the Application for Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth to request the certificate that is included within this packet. For more information with regards to this certificate, please visit the Nebraska Department of Health & Human services website, link provided above. As with any certified copy, there will be a small fee applied from the state to obtain the certificate.

• Birth and Death Certificate: This applies to any baby that was born alive and passed away after birth. The hospital will file a birth certificate with the State of Nebraska. Once the mortuary resumes care of the baby they will file a death certificate with the State of Nebraska. For more information with regards to this certificate, please visit the Nebraska Department of Health & Human services website, link provided above. As with any certified copy, there will be a small fee applied from the state to obtain the certificate

Mental Health:

• CHI Health Behavioral Care Therapists
• Perinatal Mental Health
• Maternal Health and Grief

Breast Care:

• Breast Care After a Loss Flyer

Connected Forever 

No Footprint Too Small 

The Collective for Hope 

National GriefShare Groups 

Postpartum Support International 

March of Dimes 

Safe to Sleep 

First Candle 

Child Bereavement 

Cribs for Kids 

Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance 

Haven Midwest 

The Miss Foundation 

Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support 

Return to Zero Center for Healing 

Compassionate Friends 

Star Legacy Foundation 

Omaha-Metro services are held the last Friday of the month in April (following Easter) and October (Following all Souls day, which  may end up being the first Friday in November) at the St. Mary Magdalene Cemetery located on Q Street between 46th & 48th Streets. This service will take place at the mausoleum near the Q Street entrance of the cemetery.

You are welcome to bring family members and friends who have shared in your loss. 

Pastoral Care Numbers:

• CUMC - Bergan Mercy: (402) 398-6030
• Immanuel: (402) 572-2164
• Lakeside: (402) 717-8180
• Mercy Council Bluffs: (712) 328-5050
• Midlands: (402) 593-3107

Open Arms Infant Bereavement Support Group

Our support group meets monthly and is for families who have experienced the loss of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or shortly after birth.

The group meets on Wednesday evenings from 7 - 8 p.m. during every month except January, May and September. 

Location: West Hills Church - Lower Level Library, 3015 South 82nd Avenue, Omaha, NE 68124

Park on the north side of the church and use the north entrance on Spring Street. The library is on the lower level at the bottom of the steps to the left once inside the church.

There is no fee to attend this group. Call (402) 669-7581 if you would like more information.

BRIDGES

Bereavement, Resources, Infant Loss, Death, Grief, Encouragement and Support

The CHI Health St. Elizabeth BRIDGES Program is a bereavement support system for families who experience a pregnancy loss through miscarriage, ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, stillbirth or newborn death.

We believe that mourning the loss of a baby (no matter what the gestational age) is difficult but important work. Our mission is to provide sensitive care, information about grief and empathetic support and encouragement on a one-to-one basis.

Our BRIDGES program includes:

• A BRIDGES packet containing resource material on grief given to each individual experiencing a loss
• On-going grief support through follow-up phone calls and/or written notes during the first year
• As many mementos of the baby as possible, created by the nursing staff and given to the parents at no cost
• Information provided about available community support
• Acceptance of referrals from local providers and surrounding communities
• Palliative care pre-birth counseling for families of babies with life-limiting diagnosis
• Annual Memorial Services
  • Spring service at St. Elizabeth
  • City-wide “Butterfly Release” the third Sunday in August
  • City-wide “Walk to Remember” the first Sunday in October
  • City-wide “Time of Remembrance” candle lighting the second Sunday in December
• Annual fall workshop for health care providers who care for families experiencing pregnancy loss

BRIDGES grief supporters are Registered Nurses who have received additional education through Resolve Through Sharing (RTS) Bereavement Services. They are available to listen, offer support, encouragement and consolation. There is no charge for our BRIDGES program. For more information, call (402) 219-7065.

EMBRACE

Perinatal Palliative Care & Hospice Program

Embrace: Every Moment Brief, Remembered Always, Cherished Eternally

The CHI Health St. Elizabeth EMBRACE program is a support system for families who are facing the knowledge that their unborn baby has a life-limiting diagnosis.

The EMBRACE team consists of doctors, nurses, social workers and pastoral care ministers who strive to address the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the family when they receive this life-changing information.

We recognize that every moment a family spends with their baby is precious. We desire to create a sacred and safe environment where a family can give birth and honor the life of their child even though the time may be brief.

• One-on-one support for families to assist with creating individualized birth plans
• Resource materials to support families throughout their pregnancy and following birth
• The opportunity to meet with care providers to discuss medical interventions that families may desire following the birth of their baby
• Spiritual support through Pastoral Care and Ministers within the community
• Private tours of the Advanced Baby Center™ and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• The creation of baby photographs and keepsakes for families
• Ongoing follow-up and support for family and friends

For more information, please contact the EMBRACE Coordinator at (402) 219-7065.

Pastoral Care - (402) 219-7394

Memorial services are part of a healing process that helps us honor the memory of our loved one and reach out to one another.  In remembrance of those babies stillborn, miscarried, or who have died in infancy, CHI Health Good Samaritan has an annual infant memorial service on the first Sunday in June at 3 p.m. at Kearney Cemetery.  You will receive an invitation to the service a few weeks prior. While you cannot mark the gravesite with your baby's name, there is a headstone in place at the site.

The Pastoral Care Staff and the Maternity Center of Good Samaritan, along with local clergy, conduct a special interfaith service.  Parents and other family members who will not have the opportunity to watch their young one grow are cordially invited to attend and share in this meaningful time of memory.  The service includes music, prayers, scripture and poetry.

For more information, contact the Maternity Center at (308) 865-7137.

Pastoral Care - (308) 233-5200

Resources:

• Kearney 2024 Infant Memoral Service
• Kearney Greif Counselors and Therapists
• Kearney Burial Costs and Contacts