ABSTRACT
Limited information is available concerning what resources to offer and how to best
counsel patients after the loss of a desired pregnancy. The Touching Hearts Program
at the University of Iowa offers support for such patients and their families. We
reviewed responses to a questionnaire (n = 128) sent to families who received support
from the program. Data was evaluated using descriptive statistics or Pearson's Chisquare.
A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Sixty-four percent of patients
reported visiting with the chaplain, 67% had their baby blessed or baptized, and 80%
held a funeral or memorial service. Ninety-two percent of patients were offered private
time with their baby, and 87% elected to do so. While 66% of patients felt they had
adequate time with their child, 85% indicated they would have appreciated additional
opportunities to see their baby. Resources offered by the Touching Hearts Program
were highly utilized by patients. Changes in health care may decrease funding for
such programs, however, high patient utilization indicates a need for grief support
programs at facilities involved in management of abnormal pregnancies. A survey of
academic centers showed that the vast majority offer similar programs to their patients.
Keywords
Perinatal grief - termination - abortion - prenatal diagnosis
