St. Louis nurses build bereavement kits for families losing infants

Roughly 5 million Ford Model A vehicles were manufactured between 1927 and 1931, a production run that ended nearly a century ago. While only a fraction of those cars remain on the road today, car clubs in the region work to keep the iconic engines running. Stew Wolfe, vice president of the Old Dominion Model A Ford Club, noted that the vehicles generate a high number of smiles per mile. He said spectators become excited when the cars appear, and children are often ecstatic when the drivers sound the air horn.

In St. Louis, a group of labor and delivery nurses has established a nonprofit organization to address a gap in medical support. These nurses, who have personally experienced the emotional weight of caring for mothers after a loss, created the alliance to offer resources to families dealing with the death of a baby. Kayla Hollingshead, a member of the group, stated that most medical diagnoses have an established standard of care within the profession. However, she said no such standard had previously existed for families who unexpectedly lose a child.

The alliance has developed a new care protocol that extends to how office staff speaks with grieving families. The organization also assembles comfort kits containing books, cards, and self-care items. These kits are mailed to families around the world to provide tangible support during a difficult time. The nurses hope this approach raises the bar for bereavement care in cases of pregnancy or infant loss.

Health experts on the same broadcast discussed strategies for managing stress and pain. Gerontologist “Sam” Cradduck advised caregivers to leave the room and calm down when a conversation with a loved one begins to escalate. He suggested this physical reset can prevent sharp words from causing further tension.

Amy O’Rourke, an aging expert, cautioned caregivers to choose their words carefully. She identified specific terms that can escalate interactions, listing no, you, always, never, don’t, and you can’t as words to use with care. O’Rourke emphasized that language choice is a critical part of maintaining dignity during stressful caregiving moments.

Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, explained the mechanics of gout, a common and painful condition. She described how uric acid builds up in the blood, leading to crystals forming in joints and other tissues. The immune system then treats these crystals as foreign objects, causing inflammation. Rogers noted that while the condition is often associated with a red, throbbing big toe, the buildup of uric acid can sometimes indicate a larger underlying issue.