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 through holding their baby before and at the time of their death, when possible.

ROOTS makes available holistic care, support and follow-up to 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 spiritual care chaplains
• Spiritual care, including a baby-naming ceremony, baptism and blessings
• Burial and memorial services – held twice a year – for all families who have experienced a loss
• Follow-up care for grieving parents and family members, such as follow-up calls and cards
• A special baby memory box, which contains a book and other keepsakes
• 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 photos (with some limitations) and a memory card as time-honored reminders of babies who have prematurely passed

Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Loss Support Group

The ROOTS Parent and Family Support Group is for those who have suffered a loss in any stage of their pregnancy. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Hackerman-Patz House, located on the hospital campus.

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.