In Today’s Issue:

🔗 Resources mentioned from the event
📖 Deep dive: 5 Takeaways From The Bereavement Training Event
🩷 Self-care moment: How other nurses responded to our survey

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🔗 Resources from the Bereavement Training Event

🧩 The ATTEND Model
Explore this evidence-based framework for compassionate bereavement care. Read the ATTEND Model article (PDF)

🧘 Mindfulness & Yoga for Grief
Review NIH-funded research on yoga and mindfulness for parents after infant death. Read the research

📚 “Bearing the Unbearable” by Dr. Joanne Cacciatore
A highly recommended book for understanding and supporting traumatic grief. Get the book

🏡 Home Funeral Resources
Learn about legal and practical options for families considering a home funeral. Learn about home funerals

Today’s newsletter is sponsored by: Caring Cradle®

Caring Cradle® A Cooling Cradle for Infant Demise

A Caring Cradle® is a cooling bassinet that is designed to allow families more time with their infant that has died. The cradle comes assembled and is ready for use 30 minutes after being plugged in. With the gel mat properly cooled, it allows families to hold their baby and have that extra time they wouldn’t normally have to create memories.

📖 Deep Dive

5 Takeaways From The Bereavement Training Event

Dr. Joanne Cacciatore’s bereavement training was rich with practical, research-backed strategies for supporting families after the death of a baby or miscarriage. Below are five key takeaways, paraphrased and synthesized for your practice, to help you feel more confident and compassionate in the care you provide.

1. Mirroring Family Language and Presence Over Words

One of the strongest messages from the training was the importance of using the same words families use to describe their baby and their loss. Many parents do not resonate with terms like “fetus” or “pregnancy loss,” and some even find “stillborn” too clinical. Mirroring the family’s own language—whether that’s “my son who died,” “our baby,” or a specific name—can help parents feel acknowledged and validated. This simple act can support their identity as parents and help them process their grief. Sometimes, words aren’t even necessary. Dr. Cacciatore highlighted the unique comfort that comes from simply being a steady, quiet presence in the room, much like the way a beloved pet offers support—no pressure to talk, just gentle companionship.

2. Gentle, Honest Communication and Psychoeducation

Families benefit from clear and compassionate explanations about what to expect, both medically and emotionally. Providing psychoeducation with tenderness helps reduce confusion and fear, especially when parents encounter unexpected experiences (such as postmortem changes in their baby). Dr. Cacciatore’s ATTEND model—Attunement, Trust, Touch, Egalitarianism, Nuance, and Death/Grief Education—offers a helpful framework for this kind of care. Giving families choices (for example, about lighting, music, or how they want to spend time with their baby) can help restore a sense of control during a profoundly disorienting time.

3. Creating Keepsakes and Emotional Artifacts

Offering opportunities for families to create keepsakes is a crucial part of compassionate bereavement care. The training encouraged staff to think broadly about what might be meaningful: photographs, hand and foot molds, locks of hair, and even fingernail clippings. It’s best to create multiple sets of keepsakes, especially in cases where parents may be separated, so that everyone has something tangible to hold onto. Families should also be made aware that they can take their own photos and that seeing or holding their baby at the funeral home is often possible. These “emotional artifacts” can become treasured reminders for years to come.

4. Emotional Support: Presence, Not Fixing

Research presented in the training showed that what families value most is emotional support—being present, remembering their baby by name, and acknowledging important dates. One subtle but powerful tip: avoid handing a tissue to someone who is crying, as this can unintentionally signal that they should stop expressing emotion. Instead, have tissues available nearby, allowing parents to reach for them if and when they’re ready. This approach respects the full range of grief and avoids rushing or “fixing” emotional responses. Simply being there, listening, and allowing grief to unfold naturally is often the most healing support you can offer.

5. The Unique Comfort of Animals and the Impact of Quality Care

An unexpected finding from Dr. Cacciatore’s research was that many bereaved parents found the greatest comfort from animals—more than from professionals or even friends. The quiet, nonjudgmental presence of a pet can be deeply soothing, offering a model for how we, as humans, can support grieving families: by being present, attentive, and accepting, without the need for words or solutions. Additionally, the training underscored that high-quality bereavement care benefits not only families but also healthcare teams and institutions. Patient satisfaction with compassionate care is linked to lower malpractice claims and better overall outcomes for everyone involved.

These insights are meant to help you feel more prepared and supported as you walk alongside families in their grief. If you have questions or want to share what’s working on your unit, I’m always here to connect. Thank you for the care and presence you bring to this work every day.

🩷 Self-care moment

How did other nurses respond to the question, “What do you struggle with most”?

If you’ve ever finished a shift and wondered if you did or said the right thing, you’re not alone. After the event, so many of you shared what’s hardest about caring for families after the death of a baby or miscarriage. Here are just a few of the honest, heartfelt responses from your peers:

If you see yourself in any of these, please know you’re in good company. Every single response was a reminder that nobody has all the answers—and that’s okay. This work is hard, and it’s also deeply meaningful. Give yourself permission to be human, to keep learning, and to reach out for support when you need it.

You’re making a difference, even on the days it doesn’t feel like it. Thank you for showing up, for families and for each other.