La Serena
Birth Services
Bereavement Support
Sometimes, babies are born that end up unable to live for very long outside the uterus. Sometimes, we have no explanation as to their demise. At these moments, it takes a village to get through one of the toughest moments any birthing person might go through.
Laura is trained by StillBirthday, a doula organization that is trained to specifically to handle loss at the time of birth or during the postpartum period. She will attend to you, staying by your side.
Prenatals
If you contact her prenatally, she will help you determine end-of-life care for your baby. Laura will discuss funeral homes she recommends, cremation vs burial, as well as the physiological aspects of birth and how things may change when expecting a demise. Prenatal contact is NOT necessary to receive support.
Labor Support
During labor, her support continues as any regular birth doula. Between alternative forms of pain relief, massage, and other types of support, Laura won't treat you any differently than her labor clients, unless you otherwise specify. She will provide things you might want to remember your baby - handprints, footprints, and more. Laura will hold space for you and your family to both celebrate your child's birthday and mourn their loss.
Post Partum Support
For postpartum support, Laura will help you with either pumping, so you can donate your milk, or tips on drying up your milk safely. She will help you process your emotions, provide support in the community, and be by your side at your child's memorial service, if you'd like. StillBirthday provides training for how to help a birthing person with the different issues that arise postpartum. We provide support, an ear, a friend, for postpartum help. You determine how much or how little you want Laura involved with your postpartum healing.
There is no payment expected with a loss birth. If you would like to show your gratefulness towards the support you received, Laura accepts "Love Donations," which is any type of donation you think is appropriate to help Laura help a future family.
Why should I use a Doula?
A doula will be a constant presence by your side throughout your labor and delivery and beyond. The American Pregnancy Association has a great link explaining the benefits of a doula. A Birth and Bereavement Doula, trained by StillBirthday, helps from prenatal appointments to birth and then helping you navigate life after a loss.
What is StillBirthday?
StillBirthday is a resource for a birthing person going through a loss in any trimester. Besides training doulas to assist in bereavement care, StillBirthday helps by giving all mothers knowledge to help process their loss. If you need Laura's assistance as a birth and bereavement doula, please reach out to us. From conception to post partum, she supports everyone, no matter how they need her.
Community Resources
Please see the following list of resources in San Diego County and southeast Vermont to help you. Please note: If you do not see anything here which can help you, please reach out to Laura via the Contact Us page. She will reach out to her community to find the resources and help that you need.
SAN DIEGO RESOURCES
Churches
Roman Catholic
St, Martin of Tours
7710 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942
Baptist
Lighthouse Baptist Church
1345 Skyline Dr, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Latter Day Saints
San Diego Temple
7474 Charmant Dr, San Diego, CA 92122
Lutheran
First Lutheran Church
1420 Third Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Non Denominational Christianity
The Rock Church
2277 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92106
Unitarian Univeralist
First Uniterian Universalist Church of San Diego
4190 Front St, San Diego, CA 92103
Funeral Homes
Legacy Funeral and Cremation Care
7043 University Ave. La Mesa CA 91942
(619) 337-1400
Beardsley-Mitchell Funeral Home
1818 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107
(619)-223-8100
Featheringill Mortuary
6322 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92115
(619) 583-9511
Local Support
Empty Cradle - in-person support groups for the birthing person and their partner. Please visit their website for a list of upcoming meetings, under the Events section.
Compassionate Friends - in-person support for families mourning a loss of a child of any age. They meet the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm at Community of Christ Church, 4811 Mt Etna Dr, San Diego, CA 92117.
PostPartum Health Alliance - a community resource network for all types of postpartum support, from NICU stays, to depression, to grief.
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep - Volunteer professional photographers who provide beautiful heirloom portraits to families facing the untimely death of an infant.
Elizabeth Hospice - local hospice care that specializes in pediatric and perinatal hospice and palliative care.
SOUTHEAST VERMONT, WESTERN MA AND SOUTHWEST NH RESOURCES
Churches
Roman Catholic
St. Michael
White Birch Ave Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 257-5101
Baptist
Baptist Church of West Brattleboro
979 Western Ave Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 257-0187
Episcopal
St. Michael's Episcopal Church
16 Bradley Ave Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 254-6048
Lutheran
Trinity Lutheran Church
161 Western Ave Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 254-4220
Non Denominational Christian
New Life Chapel
10 Longwood Dr Keene, NH 03431
(603) 352-3808
Methodist
First United Methodist Church
25 Church St Greenfield, MA 01301
(413) 772-6935
Funeral Homes
Atamaniuk Funeral Home
40 Terrace Street Brattleboro, VT 05301
(802) 254-8183
Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home
87 Franklin St. Greenfield, MA 01301
1-413-773-8853
Cheshire Family Funeral Home, Chapel and Cremation
(Funeral Home) 46 S Winchester St. Swanzey, NH 03446
(603) 357-2980
(Chapel) 44 Maple Ave Keene, NH 03431
(603) 357-2980
Local Support
Empty Arms Bereavement Support - Based in Florence, MA, near Northampton, MA, Empty Arms provides multiple different support groups for bereavement, from miscarriage, to stillbirth and more. In person and virtual support groups are available.
New Hampshire Chapter of the TEARS Foundation - Virtual support group meets the 3rd Wednesday of every month from 7 to 8:30 pm. Contact newhampshirechapter@thetearsfoundation.org for log-in information.
Postpartum Support International Mother Group - This support group is held on Tuesdays 10:45am-12:00pm Winston Prouty Center, 20 Winston Prouty Way, Brattleboro, Vermont. THERE ARE LIVING CHILDREN DISCUSSED DURING THIS SUPPORT GROUP. For more information or to request childcare, contact Alison Wheeler at 802-258-2414.