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
S1E3: Understanding COVID-19 and Fertility [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:45
Paige Dempsey is a single mother who got pregnant by undergoing IVF. During her pregnancy, Paige contracted COVID-19. This week, Paige shares her motherhood journey with COVID-19 and how she decided to receive a COVID-19…
S1E2: Maternal Health Disparities and COVID-19 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:11
Kntrice Anadumaka has a powerful story of surviving COVID-19 while pregnant when she was not vaccinated early in the pandemic. In this episode, Kntrice shares about her experience with COVID-19 and vaccinations, as well…
S1E1: COVID-19 Vaccine Development and Safety [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:22
Jennifer Gaines became pregnant with her second child early in the pandemic when vaccines were first becoming available. Jennifer is a Certified Nurse Midwife and shares how she made the decision to get vaccinated agains…