St. Louis Nurses Mail Comfort Kits After Gap in Infant Loss Care
A local nonprofit formed by delivery staff fills a void in medical protocols by providing standardized support for grieving families worldwide.
By Anthony Lawson ·
Between 1927 and 1931, the Ford Motor Company produced approximately 5 million Model A vehicles. Today, car clubs work to keep those engines running, with Stew Wolfe, vice president of the Old Dominion Model A Ford Club, noting that the horn produces many smiles per mile. However, a different type of restoration is underway in St. Louis, where a group of nurses is addressing a missing piece of medical protocol.
Labor and delivery nurses in St. Louis have formed a nonprofit to support families facing the death of a baby. Kayla Hollingshead, one of the founders, stated that while most diagnoses have a standard of care within the medical profession, no such standard has existed for those who unexpectedly lose an infant. This gap in care prompted the women to build a new framework for support.
The new standard of care includes specific guidelines on how office staff should speak to grieving families. The organization also creates comfort kits containing books, cards, and self-care items. These packages are mailed to families around the world to provide tangible support during a difficult time.
Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, discussed gout in a separate segment of the same program. She described the condition as starting with uric acid building up in the blood, leading to crystals forming in joints and other tissues. The immune system then treats these crystals as foreign objects, causing pain. Rogers noted that uric acid buildup can point to something bigger in a patient's health.
Caregivers also face their own challenges in maintaining composure. Amy O'Rourke, an aging expert, identified specific words that can escalate a tense conversation. She advised caregivers to avoid using no, you, always, never, don't, and you can't. Choosing words with care helps prevent minor disagreements from becoming major conflicts.
Sam Cradduck, a gerontologist, offered a practical strategy for when a conversation feels like it is about to escalate. He said the first move to make is to leave the room and let oneself calm down. This physical reset allows both parties to lower their stress levels before returning to the discussion.
The St. Louis initiative stands out for its global reach. While the nurses are based in the city, the comfort kits they mail cross international borders. The organization aims to ensure that no family feels unsupported due to a lack of established medical guidelines for infant loss.
