SAN DIEGO – The Institute of Reproductive Grief Care, the global leader in reproductive grief care, research and education, today announced that it would honor Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month by highlighting its practical resources for healthcare professionals who work with patients and clients impacted by reproductive loss.
STATISTICS
- 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage
- Busy hospital Emergency Departments report an average of 5 pregnancy losses each day
- 2.4 million fetal and neonatal deaths occur in the perinatal period in the U.S. – 4 times more than the annual number of deaths from cancer!
- These numbers don’t include infertility, which carries its own repeated, emotional pain.
Reproductive loss impacts millions each year. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month is designed to bring these losses to light, give those impacted a way to tell their story and process their loss, and for their caregivers and loved ones to find ways to help them through it.
“The grief and pain of those touched by reproductive loss is often marginalized and hidden and unresolved for years – even decades,” said Michaelene Fredenburg, President and CEO of the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care and Institute of Reproductive Grief Care. “We’re changing this.”
UPCOMING LIVE EVENTS
The Institute is hosting these exciting, live events for healthcare professionals:
“Research Reveals” – Thursday, September 28, 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 ET (1 Hour) RSVP Here
Two rarely discussed, but critical, topics – the grief of extended families after reproductive loss AND the power of long-term grief within a multi-generational family. Earn a CE credit while joining us to discuss this new, unique and powerful research – live from Australia! Accreditation details are available in the RSVP link.
“Igniting Compassion in Emergency Care” – Tuesday, October 10, 5:00 pm PT / 8:00 pm ET (30 minutes) Free! RSVP here
In this quick and exciting event, get a glimpse into the deeply personal and powerful impact of reproductive loss. We interview three healthcare professionals who have witnessed the inspiring and powerful changes created by the Institute’s Emergency Care Program. See the amazing results of this Program, and how it’s bringing hope and healing to millions.
Helping Loved Ones Through Reproductive Loss – Tuesday, October 17th, 11:00 am PT / 2:00 pm ET, (45 minutes) Free! RSVP Here
Join us for a casual but intimate conversation about supporting anyone impacted by reproductive loss. You are invited – not just to listen – but to join the conversation by submitting questions and actively engaging through the chat feature as we explore together how to comfort those who need us. This event will change everything you know about grief and reproductive loss.
Second Annual Symposium – March 22, 2024 RSVP Here
The Institute’s 2024 Symposium brings together professionals from across the academic, healthcare and business sectors, to learn and share groundbreaking research and best practices related to reproductive grief care. It will take place at the Institute’s San Diego headquarters and also online.
The Institute’s inaugural Symposium was record-breaking, with 200 professionals, students and community workers attending from 30 states and 5 countries. Attendees included doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists and social workers. This is an event that you don’t want to miss!
KNOWLEDGE GAP OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
The words and actions of healthcare professionals during reproductive loss – especially in the moment of bad news delivery – are remembered forever. People who have experienced reproductive loss, even decades ago, can often recall their healthcare experiences in great detail, and conversations verbatim.
“In the medical community, there is zero standard of grief care for early pregnancy loss,” explained Fredenburg. “Without a recognized, evidence-based, unified protocol to help healthcare providers offer quality care to patients experiencing early pregnancy loss, the results can be disastrous – to patients and healthcare providers.”
The Institute fills this knowledge gap with courses and educational training that is custom designed for healthcare professionals.
INSTITUTE COURSES FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
The Institute offers a range of courses to improve the patient experience after reproductive loss. Many of these courses also offer continuing education credits.
Emergency Department Program
The Institute’s Emergency Department Program educates and equips healthcare professionals to provide evidence-based, trauma-informed, patient-centered care for those experiencing reproductive loss. This day-long intensive course engages team members from across different disciplines within healthcare systems to function cohesively in the provision of compassionate care for patients and their loved ones. Interested in the Emergency Department Program? Complete the quick form on this webpage.
Courses – Earn CE Credits and Learn!
The Institute’s online, on-demand educational courses help healthcare professionals earn continuing education credit while learning valuable skills to help clients and patients through reproductive loss.
Reproductive Grief Care Certification Passionate about helping those impacted by reproductive loss? You can now earn Reproductive Grief Care Certification! This certification is perfect for medical professionals, staff and volunteers at pregnancy centers and women’s clinics, community leaders, and anyone who recognizes the importance of grief care after reproductive loss and wants to know how to best help those impacted. All of the courses within the Reproductive Grief Care Certification program are available virtually and on demand, allowing for learning at any pace and at any time. Ready to get started? Go to the Reproductive Grief Care Certification page within the Institute’s Course Catalog to register.
MORE RESOURCES FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
As experts in reproductive grief care, the Institute offers even more resources for healthcare professionals, including:
- Healthcare Professionals’ Helpful Toolkit: This Toolkit offers practical resources, tips and links to healing tools to guide your patients through reproductive loss.
- Research: The Institute is at the forefront of gathering, creating and promoting research related to grief and communications after reproductive loss. The Institute’s quarterly online, live event, “Research Reveals,” is the Institute’s guest lecture series that highlights groundbreaking and new research related to reproductive grief care.
- Free Outreach Cards – Healing Websites for Patients – Studies show that patients and clients don’t retain much of the information that they hear during medical appointments. Emotionally charged appointments likely make retention even lower. Want to refer your patients and clients to the Institute’s anonymous, healing websites in a way that they’ll retain? These free outreach cards can be handed to patients, clients, or loved ones, to refer to once they have the emotional space to process their experience. Print these cards and leave them on your reception desk, doctor’s office, or include them in your patient information packets.
- Free “Forget Me Not” Flower cards – The “Forget Me Not” flower is the symbol of reproductive loss remembrance. Offer these free cards to patients and clients. They’re also perfect for staff clipboards, handouts, the back of IDs, reception desks or just about anywhere.
For more information on courses, certifications, accreditations, research or healing resources, please contact the Institute.
THE INSTITUTE’S VISION
The Institute brings to light the widespread need for help that is faced by the millions impacted by miscarriage and other reproductive losses. It changes the way that people think and talk about reproductive loss, and creates traditions that focus on healing, remembrance and hope. It offers a safe place for those impacted, to receive the support that they need in kindness and without judgement.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF REPRODUCTIVE GRIEF CARE
The Institute of Reproductive Grief Care is the global authority on reproductive grief care. It offers education, research, expertise and support after reproductive loss without religious or political affiliation. Its goal is to accelerate the widespread adoption of a reproductive grief standard of care, bringing comfort and hope to millions who often grieve alone and in silence for years or decades.
The Institute’s online courses are accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. The Institute of Reproductive Grief Care is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #17434. It is also approved by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs. The Institute maintains responsibility for its program and its content. The Institute also certifies healthcare professionals and others in reproductive grief care.
The Institute offers books, memorial items, and other healing resources directly to those affected, including the “Forget Me Not Signature Collection” of sympathy cards, jewelry and comfort boxes. The national campaign, promoting the “Forget Me Not” flower as a symbol of reproductive loss remembrance, won the grand prize of “Nonprofit Communications Campaign of the Year” by Public Relations Daily in 2022. All Institute proceeds from sales of “Forget Me Not” items go directly to helping those impacted. The Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For more information, see the Institute’s introductory video and visit ReproductiveGrief.org.