Telephone Support
A member of the Perinatal Loss team is available to anyone who needs guidance and support. Feel free to call if you have questions, want support group or other types of information, would like referrals, or need to talk. If we are on another line or away from the office, please leave a message. Messages will be picked up during evening and weekend hours, but non-urgent calls may not be returned until the next business day. Our phone number is (404) 851-8177.
Email Support
We realize that email does not take the place of a telephone conversation, but it is an option for those times when you have questions or if you feel uncomfortable talking on the phone. Our email address is periloss@northside.com and is answered during the week.
Pastoral Care
The chaplains at Northside Hospital understand the many unique challenges encountered when grieving a loss. They are available to listen, to offer emotional support, to assist with spiritual needs/conflicts, and to provide information about community resources. If you desire, they can contact your own clergy for you, offer prayer, or perform a blessing or baptism. They can also assist you with a memorial service or funeral.
Chaplains are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week both while you are in the hospital and once you go home by calliing (404) 851-8754.
Perinatal Loss Volunteers
Anyone who would like to volunteer in the Perinatal Loss program is both welcome and very much appreciated! Opportunities for service may include the following:
- writing articles, poems, stories, and book reviews for our newsletter and/or website
- verifying internet sites and bibliography lists
- putting grief packets together
- assisting with our memorial services (held every year on the first Sunday in May and the first Sunday in November)
- creating gifts for the memorial service
- putting together keepsake boards and scrapbook
- planning a memorial walk
- donations of wraps and small gowns
- donations of keepsake boxes
- donations of items that can be used when staff takes photos of babies (such as flowers, small stuffed animals, small baby toys)
- sharing your story at bereavement training or other presentations
Parents Supporting Parents in Grief or PSPG is a volunteer group that is comprised of parents who have suffered the loss of a baby and who want to use their experience to comfort and serve others. PSPG was formed in 1997 and is included in the Northside Hospital Auxiliary, which supports its efforts in representing the hospital. If you would like to become a part of the volunteer group, it will allow you to expand your opportunities for assisting with the program. It will require attendance at the Auxiliary orientation (a two-hour class). Once you are a member of PSPG, your opportunities can include but are not limited to:
- offering support either formally or informally to other bereaved parents (you would also be required to complete the two day Bereavement Training program presented by the hospital (see bereavement training).
- assisting the Perinatal Loss Advisory Committee in making decisions that affect families that come to Northside Hospital
- editing and maintaining our website and/or newsletter
- starting and maintaining an online PNL message board
- coordinating volunteer work nights
- editing/maintaining a volunteer newsletter
- assisting with workshops and presentations
Volunteering can reaffirm a person’s sense of self-worth. It can remind us to be grateful for life’s blessings and support a feeling of community with others. If you would like to volunteer in some capacity, you may contact the Perinatal Loss office at (404) 851-8177 or periloss@northside.com.
Perinatal Loss Training
We offer RTS Bereavement Training to hospital staff members and Perinatal Loss Office volunteers who have contact with bereaved parents. It is also open to bereaved parents who are interested in starting their own support group. It is a two-day class that provides a thorough and intense review of all aspects of perinatal loss and the grief process. There is a charge for the class to cover the cost of supplies (parent volunteers are given a discounted price). The class is held annually at Northside Hospital. For more information, please contact the Perinatal Loss office at periloss@northside.com or (404) 851-8177.
