4 days ago4 min read

Three Little Birds launches expanded perinatal bereavement program at Cooper University Hospital!

Three Little Birds is excited to formally announce the launch of our expanded bedside perinatal bereavement program at Cooper University Hospital thanks to a generous grant from the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey!

Since 2016, Three Little Birds has served as a nest of support for more than 500 families experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal loss in the Philadelphia and South Jersey region through various volunteer programs and virtual and in-person events. Through this experience, we have identified gaps in perinatal bereavement care both within the healthcare systems and the local community. We have been so fortunate to work with many families, providers, advocates and support groups to identify areas where we can best support families through this difficult experience.

Starting in 2024, we are excited to revise our mission to ensure fair and equitable access for perinatal loss families to services we find valuable that also respect personal, religious, ethnic and spiritual diversity.

Three Little Birds’ mission is to bridge the gap for perinatal loss families, advocates and professionals by providing empathetic support and resources at the time of loss and in the postpartum period for families experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of an infant for families in the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey region.

Through this program, up to 30 perinatal loss families at Cooper Hospital in Camden will have the option to receive the following:

The gift of infant remembrance portraiture – Three Little Birds will continue to provide the gift of infant remembrance portraiture by dispatching a trained advocate to go bedside or edit photos taken by staff for families experiencing stillbirth or loss in the NICU. The images are provided to families via a password protected gallery where they can view, download and share the images when the time is right for them.
Maria Rosa's Memory Making Kits - Created by a family in our nest, these memory kits include items and keepsakes for families to use and make for memory making and bonding. This includes a book, a headband or hat, bathing and grooming items and more. Developed by Three Little Birds bereavement doula, Jacquelyn Russo, these packages support both the patient and provider in having everything they need during those special moments.
Financial gift – To help offset the common financial burdens perinatal loss families experience, we are offering up to $100 towards the purchase of a disposition or memorial item for their baby. Qualifying items include a casket, urn or personalized item such as jewelry or a memorial stone or a printed book of the photos we captured for the family.
Updated resources – Families will receive a printed resources book from providers at the time of loss that include QR codes. Those codes will direct families to special places on our website where we are continuously updating our resources and ways to connect with others. These resources and memory making pages are available in the five major languages identified in the region (english, spanish, haitian creole, french and portuguese).
Postpartum support – Our expanded program also includes virtual support with licensed mental health providers with both professional and lived experience supporting perinatal loss from Postpartum Support International - NJ Chapter. Often with insurance, patients have limited options and access to providers. Our program ensures grieving parents have free support during the postpartum period and as they return home and find a “new normal”. We also have support available for dads/non-birthing parents, grandparents, siblings and loved ones.
Encouragement to honor their baby – There is no right or wrong way to grieve and that also means there is no right or wrong way a family can honor their baby. Some families need time to readjust to life before they feel open to having their things around or doing something in their memory.
Connection with others - If and when the time is right for them, they can join our WhatsApp channel to connect with others walking similar journeys or who live in their neighborhood.
Perinatal Bereavement Training for Providers - This program includes free bereavement education and photography training for providers to work in collaboration with Three Little Birds, as well as feeling empowered in having difficult conversations, encouraging families to make memories and bond, and capturing those moments when a volunteer is not available.

In a full circle moment, Three Little Birds co-founders, Brent and Kristen Samuelson, returned to Cooper Hospital on the 10th anniversary of the birth and passing of their daughter, Jimmie, from stillbirth, to educate and empower providers in giving the gifts and ensuring all families have fair and equitable access to our program. They were joined by Advisory Board member and retired NICU nurse, Christine Clarkin, and Maria Rosa's aunt and bereavement doula, Jacquelyn Russo, to provide a hands on demonstration for the final certification of the training and explain the process for facilitating the program!