Pregnancy and Infant Loss

• Pregnancy Loss - The unintentional and spontaneous death of an unborn baby (fetus) at any time during pregnancy. Pregnancy loss includes an embryonic pregnancy, a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, a molar pregnancy and/or a stillbirth. A pregnancy loss prior to 20 weeks gestation is often referred to as a miscarriage or a spontaneous abortion, while a pregnancy loss greater than 20 completed weeks is often referred to as a stillbirth or fetal death.
• Infant Loss - The loss of any anticipated life, whether it is during a pregnancy or the time following delivery.
• Neonatal Death - When a baby dies in the first 28 days of life. There are many reasons that cause a neonatal death including prematurity, low birth weight, and birth defects.
• Live Birth - A baby born alive at delivery that is evident by means of a heart rate, pulsation of the umbilical cord, spontaneous breathing, and/or voluntary muscle movement regardless of gestational age.
• Perinatal Hospice and Palliative Care - A compassionate model of support that embraces the philosophy of hospice and palliative care. This program is designed for parents who choose to continue their pregnancy following a prenatal diagnosis that indicates their baby has a life-limiting condition. This approach is multidisciplinary and individualized for each family.

What to expect

• You will be provided with medication that will start your labor. This process generally produces pain. You are able to choose the pain relief options that best suit your comfort level at this time. 
• The staff will provide you with a special comfort cart to allow for privacy in the room. 
• You will be asked to make decisions around burial or cremation.
• You will be asked if you want special mementos from your delivery. 
• We encourage you to rest and spend quality time with those you wish to be present at this time. 
• Photography is always an option.

What to bring to the hospital

• You may bring anything that is comforting to you and your family while in the facility. 
• You may choose to have family with you throughout your stay. 
• You may bring clothes or special items for your baby. 
• You may bring items to capture special moments with your family such as photos, books, music, and etc.. 

Labor 

• You may follow your original birth plan as the provider allows. This would include hydrotherapy, etc..

Baptism: A Chaplain from the facility or a Community Faith Representative of the family may provide a baptism, in a health care setting, in emergent situations.

Blessing: A Chaplain from the facility or a Community Faith Representative of the family may provide A Rite for Naming, Blessing, and Commending a Baby to God may be provided in the event the newborn was born and a Baptism is unable to be performed.

Our hearts go out to you at this difficult time. It may be hard to make important decisions. We want to make sure you know all of your options for disposition. Although it is difficult to discuss, you have the right to pick how and where your baby is laid to rest,  whether privately through a mortuary of your choice or through hospital burial. The options for you are based on personal preference, income, due date, and if your baby was born alive or still. Below are some of those deciding factors. 

Private Burial/Cremation at a Mortuary (Cremation/Burial)

You may choose a private burial through a mortuary at any time, no matter the gestation of when your baby was delivered and if they were born alive or still (no signs of life). You may choose individual burial or cremation, no matter how early or how far along you were in your pregnancy. However, you must choose this option if your baby was alive at the time of delivery. Most people choose a funeral home to help make individual arrangements. Please ask if you would like help finding a funeral home.

• For parents who choose a private burial, you will choose a private mortuary to cremate or bury your baby. 
• Any baby born alive must be cremated or buried through a mortuary. Please see campus for specific resources for options if you would need to select one.
• Any remains believed by the parents or the provider to be fetal tissue or products of conception will be treated with respect allowing you to choose a private mortuary to either cremate or bury your baby.

Hospital Burial Option

You may choose a hospital burial through the hospital service at any time, no matter the gestation of when your baby was delivered if they were still born (no signs of life). If your baby was born with any signs of life the burial or cremation must go through a mortuary. 

• For parents who choose hospital burial, each campus will hold a service. While we are a Catholic organization, the service is non-denominational and open to families of any faith tradition. This service is a communal burial, meaning your baby will be placed in a casket with other babies. 
• See local campus information on burial services, below.
• A baby born alive will not be able to be placed in the hospital for burial. 
• Any remains believed by the parents or the provider to be fetal tissue or products of conception will be treated in a similar manner and may be placed in the hospital service.  
• Any fetal death or stillbirth of any gestation will be treated in a similar manner  and may be placed in the hospital service.

Undecided

If you are undecided and do not inform the hospital of your choice for disposition within fourteen days, the hospital will include the remains in the hospital burial. If you would like to speak to someone regarding the above information, please ask the clinic staff to contact Pastoral Care.

Celebration of Life Memorial Service 

Each year the facility will celebrate the life of your baby, regardless of length of pregnancy or time on earth through a Memorial Service. 

Bismarck’s Memorial service is the second Saturday in October at 10 a.m. held in the Solarium at CHI St Alexius Health 900 East Broadway Avenue, Bismarck, ND.  We send out iOpen to all families who have suffered the loss of a baby during pregnancy, stillbirth or neonatal death.  Invitations are sent out by mail.

Williston's Celebration of life will be held at Riverview Cemetery in the children's portion of the cemetery. The Memorial service will be held on October 1, 2025 - 11:00am. Riverview Cemetery is located at 815 9th Ave W, Williston, ND. Invitations will be sent out in the mail.

Certificates

The State of Nebraska has passed a few laws to help recognize and validate the birth of your baby by way of passing. For more information on certificates please visit the North Dakota Department of Health & Human services website.

Birth and Death Certificate: This applies to any baby that was born alive and passed away after birth. The hospital will file a birth certificate with the State of North Dakota. Once the mortuary resumes care of the baby they will file a death certificate with the State of North Dakota. For more information with regards to this certificate, please visit the North Dakota Department of Health & Human services website. As with any certified copy, there will be a small fee applied from the state to obtain the certificate

Mental Health:

• Behavioral Care Therapists

Breast Care:

• Breast Care After a Loss Flyer

Stages of Grief

Four Phases of Grief

1. Shock and Numbness (Characteristics most intense first 2 weeks)

• Short attention span
• Difficult to concentrate
• Impaired decision-making
• Stunned, disbelief
• Resistant to stimuli
• Impeded function
• Denial
• Time confusion
• Failure to accept reality

2. Searching and Yearning (Characteristics dominant 2nd week through 4th month)

• Sensitive to stimuli
• Anger/guilt, dreams
• Restless
• Double meaning
• Testing what is real
• Irritability
• Weight gain or loss
• Sleeping difficulties
• Aching arms
• Obsession to get pregnant again
• Preoccupation with the deceased
• Resentment
• Bitterness
• Time confusion
• Palpitations
• Sighing
• Lack of strength
• Headaches

3. Disorientation (Characteristics dominant 5th through 9th month)

• Think “I am going crazy”
• Social withdrawal
• Disorganized
• Forgetful
• Awareness of reality
• Depressed
• Guilt
• Insomnia
• Anorexia
• Weight gain or loss
• Sense of failure
• Sadness
• Exhaustion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feels ill - “sick role”
• Lacks energy

4. Reorganization/Resolution (Characteristics dominant 9th through 24th month)

• Sense of release
• Renewed energy
• Able to make decisions easier
• Eating and sleeping habits re-established
• Able to laugh and smile again
• Increased awareness in self-esteem (appearance, diet, rest, exercise)

• Centering Corporation  Wide range of grief literature and resources.

• National Grief Support Database

• Postpartum Support International 

  • Resources and discussion support material for parents coping with grief.

• March of Dimes

  • Resources, support, and strength you need to heal among a community of people who share an unspoken connection for those who are experiencing grief from a miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal loss.

• Safe to Sleep

  • Explore resources for families who have experienced the tragic loss of a baby.

• First Candle 

  • A nonprofit organization committed to helping babies reach their first birthdays. Select from the “Bereavement” menu on the website for grief and support resources.

• Children's Bereavement Center

  • Provides resources, events, and free peer-support groups for children, young adults, adults, and families dealing with the death of a loved one.

• Cribs for Kids

  • Provides resources related to grief and bereavement for the loss of an infant. This non-profit organization provides free or reduced-cost safe sleep spaces and safe sleep education to families. 

• Haven Midwest

  • Through love and loss, Haven works to make a difference by building a community of support for parents who have endured the tremendous loss of a child providing resources, gifts, and healing events.

• The Miss Foundation

  • Quick access to counseling resources, advocacy information, research on traumatic grief, education for healthcare providers and community members, and support services for those grieving the death, or impending death, of a child. 

• Return to Zero Center for Healing

  • RTZ HOPE is a national non-profit organization that provides holistic support, resources, and community for all people who have experienced unimaginable loss during the journey to parenthood.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): SIDS: Parents and Caregivers 

  • Gathering of several organizations that offer support to families who have experienced the death of an infant. 

Bismarck:

Bismarck’s Memorial service is the second Saturday in October at 10 a.m. held in the Solarium at CHI St Alexius Health, 900 East Broadway Avenue, Bismarck, ND.  Open to all families who have suffered the loss of a baby during pregnancy, stillbirth or neonatal death.

Healing Hearts Grief Support Group

This grief support group provides guidance and a sense of healing for those who have experienced the loss of a child. From miscarriages to the death of an adult child, we are here to help. All are welcome. There is no fee to attend.

Parkway Funeral Service

2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, ND, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

2nd and 4th Tuesdays in September through May (excluding holidays). 

4th Tuesdays in June, July, and August (excluding holidays).

For questions or more information, contact:

Brenda Bergan, Grief Care Coordinator

Call or text - (701) 426-1021

Williston:

Williston Memorial Service will be held at Riverview Cemetery October 1 @1100

• Please make your way to the Children’s Portion of the Cemetery
• Address: 815 9th Ave W, Williston, ND 58801

New Hope Grief Support Group

• New Hope Church - 721 26th St W, Williston, ND 58801
• Wednesdays 6:00pm

Evolve Counselling

• Staci Eckbald - (701)609-5376

WebHealing

• https://webhealing.com/

The Kevin Brendan Organization

• Casey Hamilton - [email protected]
• Meetings 1st Wednesday of every month  7-9 pm at the A.R.C. Williston -  822 18th St E, Williston, ND 58801

Journey of Hearts

• https://www.journeyofhearts.org/