A labor nurse has shared with Newsweek a glimpse into the compassionate steps taken by hospital staff to help parents navigate the pain of losing a baby.
Sarah, who is not permitted to reveal her last name or exactly where she works, posted the deeply personal part of her job—supporting families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss—in a video on Instagram.
“Far too often, families are not given adequate support, even during their hospital stay. This causes further trauma and inflicts further pain. As a labor/postpartum nurse, I do everything in my power to make these families feel seen and safe,” Sarah said.
@labor_junkie_rn
The clip, posted under the handle @labor_junkie_rn, begins with Sarah preparing a special bassinet used by the hospital for these heartbreaking situations. The bassinet has a self-cooling mattress, allowing parents to spend unlimited time with their baby.
Sarah, who has worked for 15 years as a nurse, gives parents a box and carefully chooses the hand-sown gown to place on the baby for pictures “in hopes to capture the memory of their child,” she writes in her text overlay.
In her caption, the mom of three explained that all items are provided at no cost to the parents, funded by the hospital’s obstetrics department and volunteers.
“Not only have these families lost their baby, they still have to go through delivery (vaginal or cesarean), postpartum recovery, empty car seats, dismantling nurseries, and so much more with no baby in their arms. At discharge, the families must then continue on with life amidst a world that is utterly clueless of their shattered hearts,” Sarah said.
One of the most meaningful aspects of her care is the creation of memory boxes, which include handprints, footprints, photos, a lock of hair, blankets, hats and other mementos, giving parents a tangible way to remember and honor their baby.
“While we do make a memory box for every loss, and the majority of patients are eager to accept it, some families do not want it. They might not want to remember this day, or they might find healing in other ways, which is perfectly fine,” Sarah said.
She described how, despite the profound sadness, there is often a bittersweet moment of connection when parents see the tiny footprints or notice a familiar nose in the photos. Sarah’s clip has gone completely viral on Instagram, clocking up almost six million views and over 3,000 comments.
Some users shared how grateful they were to have received this sort of care after they lost their baby.
“The care given to my little boy after birth was amazing he was treated like he was still here, they spoke to him and rocked him too,” one user wrote.
“Having my baby next to me all night in one of these bassinets was literally life-changing for my husband and I. We got to hold and love on our baby all night, whenever we wanted,” another commented.
For Sarah and many of her colleagues, the process of creating these memory items also serves as a moment of reflection and a way to cope with the emotional toll of supporting grieving families.
“Secondary trauma is very real, and nurses are almost never provided the resources to cope with that trauma. For some of us, taking a step back to string together that bracelet with the baby’s name or slowing down to get the perfect footprints allows us a moment to process, acknowledge and sit with what is happening,” she said.
Sarah’s dedication to her patients extends beyond the hospital walls. Her educational Instagram account, which she started two years ago, aims to provide evidence-based information and create an empowered birthing community.
“The bereavement community has always held a very special place in my heart. I myself struggled with recurrent pregnancy loss. My parents—who had five perfectly healthy babies—experienced a full term stillbirth when I was a toddler, and so many of my loved ones have similar stories.
“Bereaved families are as much a part of the birthing community as anyone, which is why I try to honor them with tribute videos like this one,” she told Newsweek.