Bereavement Birth Services

What is Zanna's HOPE?

Have you ever heard the words, “I’m sorry, there’s no heartbeat,”

something similar or even worse?

No one should have to walk the path of pregnancy and infant loss alone and uninformed. Pregnancy and infant loss are one of the most excruciating experiences a woman and her family can go through. It is a sad, scary and emotional time. The mission of a Baby Loss Family Advisor™/Baby Loss Doula® and Bereavement Doula™ is to provide the mother, in addition to her loved ones, with emotional support, information and any other help and support that can be provided before, during and after a loss. As a Baby Loss Family Advisor™/Baby Loss Doula®, it is also the goal to help family and friends understand what the mother is going through and how best they can help during this time of loss and grieving.

Following a loss, families also struggle with decisions and options on if and when to attempt a subsequent pregnancy. While a subsequent pregnancy can be a joyous occasion for many, for those having suffered the loss of a baby, it can be a time of anxiety, frustration and fear, among many other emotions and circumstances. As a Rainbow Doula™, the goal is to provide more personalized pregnancy support for families that is tailored to their specific needs, to help better support them along their pregnancy journey than can often times be stressful.

What are “bereavement birth services”?

Bereavement birth services encompass a variety of services offered. Bereavement Doula services, or Loss Doula services, are offered for women/families who are currently facing a pregnancy/infant loss (which may include miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm labor/loss, fatal fetal diagnosis and/or neonatal death), or who have experienced a recent loss.

These services may include

creating a birth preferences plan;

working with a professional bereavement photographer for bereavement maternity and/or bereavement birth photographs;

being present for physical and emotional support during labor and birth;
taking photos, creating mementos and doing our best to maximize memories and minimize regrets;

offering options and information regarding final decisions and final disposition;
information, guidance and support regarding funeral/ceremony/rituals;
follow up support both in-person, via text and/or online/electronically (including a monthly support group);

making sure that all information and options possible have been provided so that you can make decisions based on what best suits you and your family.

What may this look like for you and your family...

it may be any combination of some or all of these services:

phone/text/email support;
in-person face-to-face support;
prenatal visits;
joining you during a regular scheduled medical care provider appointment to meet your birthing/care team;
birth preferences plan and consultation;
being present for physical and emotional support during labor and delivery;
follow up care in the form of postpartum visits and/or grief support;
as well as additional services not listed;
it is our goal to customize this time to your specific needs, wants and desires as much as possible.

All of these services are provided by Robin L. Schroeder of Zanna's HOPE on a volunteer basis, with recommendations ONLY for donations to help provide support and care for other bereaved families such as yourself.

A Rainbow Doula™ is very much the same as a regular birth doula. A doula provides support to a mother/family in their pregnancy (typically during the last half, or third trimester) in the form of information/education, emotional support and physical support (during times of labor and/or later in pregnancy). While a Rainbow Doula™ provides all of these same means of support, we also provide more specialized attention and sensitivity to the enhanced needs of families having suffered a loss. This can be a stressful and worrisome time for mothers and families during a subsequent pregnancy and, it is our goal to provide as much individual support as possible to those families requesting our services and as early as they wish to have services provided.

it may be any combination of some of all of these services:

free initial meeting/consultation at any stage of pregnancy;
creating a birth preferences plan;
- the plan utilized is much more detailed than most typical birth plans and includes questions regarding inclusion of babies who died and if/how you may want to include them in your labor/delivery;
providing emotional and educational support via phone, text, email, etc.;
prenatal visits;
joining you during a regular scheduled medical care provider appointment to meet your birthing/care team;
being present for physical and emotional support during labor and delivery;
follow up care in the form of postpartum visits and/or additional subsequent grief support;
as well as additional services not listed;
it is our goal to customize this time to your specific needs, wants and desires as much as possible.

All of these services are provided by Robin L. Schroeder of Zanna's HOPE on a fee basis. Please visit our "Book Online" section to view services and fees, or contact Robin through the form below with any questions or concerns. Fees help cover immediate expenses as well as help us to provide support and care for other bereaved families in their time of loss.

What are “Rainbow Doula™ services”?

What Rainbow Doula™ services may include and how might they look for you and your family...

Baby Loss Family Advisor™ services

offered and provided are for women and their loved ones in navigating the loss journey. These services may include all or some of the above listed for Bereavement Birth Services, with the exception of physical support.

These services are also provided on a volunteer basis, with recommendations ONLY for donations to help provide support to other.

Rainbow Doula™ services

are offered for women/families who are pregnant and expecting a baby following a pregnancy or infant loss (Rainbow Baby). It is Robin's mission and the vision of Zanna's HOPE to only offer these services to families who have suffered a prior loss.

Rainbow Doula™ services are provided for a FEE. Please contact us if you would like to learn more about these services.

It is the hope and goal of Robin and Zanna's HOPE, to help families experiencing a loss in any trimester and beyond, as well as offer support in subsequent pregnancy. To learn more about Robin, who she is, what she does and why this cause is so near and dear to her heart, please read more by clicking on the photo links below.

Support

All things birth related, from lists of medical providers, birth workers, birthing facilities and more...whether you are experiencing a loss or expecting your rainbow baby.

Healing starts at the beginning and is a lifelong journey of change and adaptation. Here you will find information and links regarding the healing journey you may have already begun or are about to embark upon.

Extensive list and links on how to make the special time of meeting your baby memorable and unique by providing ideas for memory making, mementos, photographs, and much more.

Support can come in many different forms for many different people. Here you will find an extensive list of information and links to local, national and international support resources and organizations.

Making final decisions can be extremely difficult. Here you will find suggestions, information and links on ceremonies, funerals, final disposition and more.

Reading can not only be a way to find out information, but can also be a form of release and healing. here you will find not only lists and links for informative books and publications, but also books of self-help and healing.