Perinatal Hospice Care
For most parents, expecting a new baby is a time filled with excitement, anticipation and hope for the future. However, for parents who have been given a prenatal diagnosis that their baby may be born with a life-threatening condition, this can be a time filled with sorrow and uncertainty. Parents may find themselves alone with limited information and resources. Other family members may also be facing their own feelings of heartbreak.
The Perinatal Bereavement Team is here to be of support to you and your family through this difficult time. We are dedicated to embracing our parents who made the decisions to continue their pregnancy and wish to spend precious moment with their baby.
The Women's Center at Covenant Children's Hospital offers specialized perinatal care. Our desire is to help families find their strength and hope during their journey.
We will work with you to make sure the precious time you have with your baby will honor your wishes. During your patient care conference, our specialized team will meet with you to plan your chosen course of care for you and your baby.
Because each family’s needs are unique, this supportive environment is where you can voice your individual wishes and make choices about your plan of care, as well as seek answers to any questions you may have.
Ways we can help
- Coping with the remainder of your pregnancy
- Preparing for the birth and caring for the life of your baby
- Creating a specialized “Birth Plan” that address the goals during your pregnancy, delivery and time after birth
- Creating memories of your time spent with your baby
- Keepsakes
- Transitioning care from hospital to hospice care at home, if needed
- Planning for funeral and memorial services
- Accessing bereavement services
- Accessing Child Life Services from Covenant Children’s Hospital for sibling support
- Helping your family members understand and cope with the loss of your precious baby
For more information about the Perinatal Hospice Care Program, please call 806-725-6667.
The staff at Covenant Children’s Hospital is here to help our families through the difficult time of losing a baby. The death of a child comes as a shock and leaves families with a sense of numbness. It is often difficult to think about making plans and remembering all the details while coping with a loss. We want you to know that your family is not alone.
Our registered nurses provide compassionate care unique to the needs of each family in an empathetic environment that encompasses dignity and respect.
The spiritual care department has chaplains available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide patients and their loved ones with spiritual and emotional care during the death process and beyond. They can provide spiritual support and religious rituals, such as prayer, scripture readings and baptism that are appropriate to religious traditions. They can make contact with patient’s religious organization, if desired.
A professionally-trained case manager is also available to help with coping and the emotional components of a loss. Case managers are knowledgeable about community resources and can offer direction and understanding about your decisions.
Unique services offered
- Memory box for baby’s sacred moments
- Specialized photography
- Baby’s hand and footprints
- Follow-up support groups
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Support Group of Lubbock
PILA of Lubbock is a support group for those who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death, or for parents who had a much-wanted pregnancy but due to medical problems were unable to continue the pregnancy.
PILA is a network of grieving families who have experienced the death of a baby with the goal to help other parents in the normal grieving process. PILA provides a safe and comforting environment for newly-bereaved parents to share their feelings with other bereaved parents. Much of the content and structure is based on the needs of the group. This provides the opportunity to discuss individual needs and feelings with others who have had a similar experience.
Meetings are held the third Wednesday of every month, 7 - 8:30 p.m. at LCU Behavioral Science Building, 2092 Dover Avenue, Room 105. There is no charge to attend.
For more information, call 806-441-3612, send an email or visit PILA on Facebook.