Support for Newborn and Pregnancy Loss

UM St. Joseph's Recognizing Others Overcoming Their Struggles (ROOTS) Perinatal Loss Program offers support to grieving families of babies who have prematurely passed.

The program honors women and families who have experienced an infant loss, miscarriage or stillbirth by acknowledging the lifelong parenting and bereavement process. ROOTS provides education, resources and support with compassionate, loving care.

Family Support at UM St. Joseph

At UM St. Joseph, families are encouraged to create the most compassionate and comprehensive bereavement experience by holding their baby before and at the time of their death, when possible.

ROOTS helps provide access to and information about holistic care and support for families who are grieving the loss of a child from any gestational age through the newborn period. We offer: 

• Private patient rooms and the Edward V. Julio Family Bereavement Room, which allow families the privacy needed for grieving, consultations and making memories
• Exceptional, personalized care from our team of doctors, nurses and chaplains
• Spiritual care, including a baby-naming ceremony, baptism and blessings
• A special burial service (often held twice a year) for all families who have experienced a perinatal loss
• Follow-up calls and cards for grieving parents and family members
• A special baby memory box, which contains a book and other keepsakes
• Access to our resource library's supply of books and information on relevant topics ranging from miscarriage to full-term loss, as well as local bereavement service locations
• Bereavement photo (with some limitations) and a memory card for parents

For more information, please call the ROOTS support line at 410-427-5440, or email roots@umm.edu.

To make a charitable donation in support of ROOTS, please contact the UM St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation at 410-337-1397 or email SJFoundation@umm.edu.