S4E5: Stillbirth: Navigating Compassionate Care and Support

S4E5: Stillbirth: Navigating Compassionate Care and Support

Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists June 5, 2025 Duration: 59:38
Supporting families through the profound loss of stillbirth requires both clinical expertise and emotional sensitivity. This episode explores how obstetric care professionals can support grieving families through compassionate care. Our guests will examine strategies for clinicians to manage their own mental health, integrate mental health resources into practice, and train residents in empathetic patient support. The episode includes insights from a mental health expert on discussing grief and loss with patients and perspectives from individuals who have experienced stillbirth on the support they need from health care professionals. Dvora Entin, LCSW, PMH-C, adjunct professor at Wurzweiler School of Social Work, and Uma M. Reddy, MD, MPH, FACOG, vice chair of research and professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, join Labor of Love host Veronica Maria Pimentel, MD, MS, FACOG, to share clinical insights on compassionate care.

Special commentary provided by Katharine White, MD, MPH, FACOG, at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, and Erica M. Freeman at Sisters in Loss.

Content Warning: This episode contains sensitive discussions of pregnancy loss. It may be difficult for those who have experienced infertility or pregnancy loss. Please take care while listening.

Dr. Veronica “Vero” Pimentel brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to the conversation in Labor of Love: Supporting Maternal Well-Being in a Complex World. As a practicing OB-GYN, a dedicated vaccine expert, and a mother who navigated parenting during a pandemic, she guides each discussion with both professional expertise and lived experience. This podcast moves beyond simple advice, creating a space where honest dialogue about maternal and postpartum health can flourish. Vero sits down with a range of health care professionals and specialists, unpacking everything from the critical importance of maternal immunization to other emerging and often overlooked issues affecting new parents. These conversations aim to demystify the latest research, address contemporary challenges, and highlight meaningful breakthroughs in care. Created with support from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the series offers a trusted, nuanced resource for anyone interested in the multifaceted journey of motherhood. Listeners will find a blend of science, compassion, and practical insight, all focused on supporting well-being through the profound transition into parenthood. Each episode feels like a thoughtful conversation with a knowledgeable friend who understands the complexities of keeping both parent and child healthy in today's world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 24

Labor of Love: Supporting Maternal Well-Being in a Complex World
Podcast Episodes
S4E6: Safe Travels: Risks, Tips, and Best Practices During Pregnancy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:45
Many patients wonder if it’s safe to travel during pregnancy. What should obstetric care professionals be advising? This episode provides guidance on counseling patients who plan to travel during pregnancy, covering heal…
S4E4: Breaking the Silence on Maternal Mental Health: Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:16
Finishing our two-part maternal mental health special, this episode explores the critical role of mental health treatment during pregnancy and postpartum. Experts discuss treatment recommendations, strategies for integra…
S4E3: Breaking the Silence on Maternal Mental Health: Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:28
Maternal mental health plays a critical role in pregnancy and postpartum outcomes, but there are still many challenges in effectively addressing it in clinical practice. This first episode in our two-part maternal mental…
S4E2: Vaccinating for Two: Overcoming Challenges in Maternal Vaccines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:00
Immunization during pregnancy plays a vital role in protecting both patients and their babies. This episode provides health professionals with the latest guidance on immunization during pregnancy, including COVID-19, Inf…
Season 4 Trailer: Supporting Maternal Well-Being in a Complex World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:43
Season 4 of ACOG’s Labor of Love podcast is here on Thursday, April 10. Join Veronica Pimentel, MD, MS, FACOG, a practicing ob-gyn, vaccine expert, and pandemic mom, as she leads conversations with experts on today’s mos…
S3E6: Preventing Perinatal HIV Transmission: Today’s Landscape [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:44
Continuing our two-part series, this season’s final episode tackles the present-day strategies for perinatal HIV care. Rodney Wright, MD, FACOG, from Montefiore-Einstein Medical Center and Susan Gillespie, MD, PhD, from…
S3E5: Preventing Perinatal HIV Transmission: Lessons from the Past [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:56
This Labor of Love episode marks the beginning of a two-part exploration into the evolution of HIV care during pregnancy. Haben Debessai, MD, from the CDC Foundation and Rhoda Sperling, MD, FACOG, from Mount Sinai join L…
S3E4: A Deep Dive into Maternal Vaccines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:41
During the past year, there have been new developments to guidelines for vaccination in pregnancy—most notably the addition of the maternal RSV vaccine. Yvonne Butler Tobah, MD, FACOG, from the Mayo Clinic and Christophe…