SAN DIEGO (June 6, 2022) – The Institute of Reproductive Grief Care and Life Perspectives®, the global leader in reproductive grief care research and education, today announced that it was awarded a $75,000 grant by The Conrad Prebys Foundation. The grant will be used to fund the Institute’s pilot program to transform reproductive grief care in Emergency Departments, beginning in San Diego County.

“One in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage in the U.S. every year,” explained Dr. Michaelene Fredenburg, President and CEO of the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care and Life Perspectives. “As many as 70% of those experiencing a miscarriage will seek medical care in the Emergency Department. Although obviously prepared to handle the medical issues of these losses, most healthcare professionals are unprepared for the emotional side of pregnancy loss.”

Reproductive Grief Care in the Emergency Department

The prevalence of miscarriage and other pregnancy and reproductive losses means that a single Emergency Department will treat dozens of reproductive losses every week. “One large healthcare system reported an average of five patients experiencing miscarriage every day!” added Fredenburg.

While medical personnel have years of training to attend to the physical needs of these patients, they typically receive no training to address the grief and emotional wounds inherent in pregnancy loss. As a result, the medical personnel’s response to miscarriage and other reproductive losses can often unintentionally increase the heartbreak of these losses – with potentially devastating consequences for the patients and their loved ones.

“While the grief inherent in a reproductive loss is unavoidable, the increased trauma and prolonged grief reactions that many experience can be avoided with proper training and support,” said Fredenburg.

These negative consequences can be amplified amongst the underserved, where there is already a lack of community support resources. Research also indicates that, when the impact of miscarriage is unintentionally downplayed, it can create future emotional and medical issues that place additional burdens on the healthcare system.

“There is an urgent need to transform reproductive grief care in the Emergency Department,” explained Fredenburg. “We are very grateful for the generous support of The Conrad Prebys Foundation.”

The project to transform reproductive grief care will take place in four stages, with the final goal of equipping 1,000 medical personnel to (a) set a positive healing trajectory for approximately 5,000 patients and their families and (b) decrease the stress on the care providers themselves. This initial project is expected to be completed in 2022, at which time it will be expanded into additional healthcare systems.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF REPRODUCTIVE GRIEF CARE AND LIFE PERSPECTIVES

Institute of Reproductive Grief Care and Life Perspectives® are the global experts in reproductive grief care. We offer education, research, expertise and support after pregnancy and reproductive loss. Our goal is to accelerate the widespread adoption of a reproductive grief standard of care, bringing comfort and hope to millions who are suffering, often alone and in silence.

We provide education and resources to healthcare professionals including hospitals, medical professionals, therapists, social workers and pregnancy centers, as well as community and faith leaders. We are nationally accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and by the State of California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) as a Continuing Education Provider. We are 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.

We are at the forefront of creating impartial and impactful research to understand the way individuals process reproductive losses, and to establish global standards for offering compassionate care. We also promote the research of others to better understand grief after reproductive loss and to close practice gaps in medicine.

Additionally, we offer healing resources directly to those who are impacted, including our “Forget Me Not Signature Collection” of sympathy cards, jewelry and comfort boxes, all featuring the “Forget Me Not” flower as a symbol of remembrance of respect for those impacted and their lost children. These are available for sale at the shop on LifePerspectives.com. All proceeds go directly to helping those impacted.

Located in San Diego, the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care is also an active campus where organizations and individuals come together for education, research, and healing of grief after reproductive loss. Our new facility features a counseling center, research library, teaching rooms, recording studio, a 400-seat auditorium with remote capabilities and office space for visiting scholars and the team of this growing organization. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For more information visit ReproductiveGrief.org.