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Resources for Health Care and Service Professionals

This section has been created to support and equip health care and service professionals with the resources and information needed to provide skilled and compassionate care to families who have experienced a pregnancy loss, stillbirth or the death of their infant.

Resources include suggestions for communication, memory making, forming bereavement committees, and practical information and handouts for families (lactation after loss, employment leave, etc.).  

Pregnancy Loss (Loss under 20 weeks GA)

Quality Standard

Ontario Health (Quality) and the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Network have released a quality standard outlining quality care for people experiencing early pregnancy complications and/or loss.
It includes a conversation guide to help patients ask informed if they are in their first trimester, have pain, or bleeding, or think a miscarriage may be happening.  View guide.

Download the following resources to see what steps you can take to improve care:

Quality Standard

 

 

 

Patient Guide

 

 

 

Quality Standard Placemat for Early Pregnancy Complication and Loss

 

 

 

Early Pregnancy Loss Provider Toolkit

This toolkit is for health and service professionals who want to provide compassionate care for early pregnancy loss patients and their families. It includes a coordinator checklist, staff education and resources, patient education and resources, and fill-able documents and guides, all based on best practice guidelines, patient and family feedback, and practical experience. Access this toolkit here.

Memory Making

Recognize, honour and remember their baby in both public and private ways

Many families find it important to recognize, honour and remember their baby in both public and private ways. There are many ways that a family can commemorate their love and continue their connection to their baby.

As healthcare professionals, you can help the family in the creation of memorial rituals and objects. Your presence and participation helps validate that a significant loss has occurred. 

Traditional Healing Supports

Meaningful connections with other services for Indigenous families

Finding meaningful support can be challenging, especially when you are grieving. PAIL Network has compiled a listing of resources in communities across Ontario that may offer crisis support as well as other meaningful connections with other services for Indigenous families at no cost. This list can be downloaded and printed, or you can access the links directly to the resources within the document. This list will be reviewed annually, and any additions or corrections can be sent to pailvolunteer@sunnybrook.ca

Please note that PAIL Network has provided these resources for information only and cannot endorse or recommend specific organizations.

Bereavement Committees

For Professionals – Caring for Yourself

Caring for care providers: tips and information

Newsletter for Professionals

Newsletter for professionals

At PAIL Network, we want to keep in touch with professionals who support families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss in Ontario. In an effort to capture important pieces of information for you in one place, we have put together these newsletters.

December 2022
October 2022
June 2022
December 2021
December 2023

Share your feedback about our resources

We’re always looking for ways to better support care professionals in providing the best care for people experiencing pregnancy or infant loss. Share your thoughts about the resources provided, and let us know if there’s anything you’d like to see in the future.