Texas WIC News, Volume 9, Number 1, January/February 2000 Page: 24
28 p. : col. ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
4afm- to m-om-
Counseling at a time of loss
by Jewell Stremler
Peer Counselor CoordinatorPeer counselors know our hardest
moments when we encounter a
mother at a time of loss. Some of the
hardest work we do is knowing that
we really can't do anything to solve
the mother's problem, but our sup-
port is invaluable.
A peer counselor may help a
mother who has had a miscarriage,
or lost an infant, or has an unexpect-
ed illness during pregnancy.
Counselors may see moms who
have an infant who is ill or handi-
capped or has a cleft palate. They
may assist someone who had an
unexpected pregnancy outcome.
These are just a few examples of
times a breastfeeding peer counselor
may find herself supporting a
woman who is going through the
grief process.
Peer counselors may encounter
women who are in the midst of fam-
ily crisis, divorce, family violence,
death, or chronic illness of a family
member. Even teen pregnancy with-
out family support or a disappoint-
ing birth or breastfeeding circum-
stance can cause a woman to experi-
ence the stages of grief: shock,
denial, anger, bargaining, guilt, and
acceptance.
Help with breastfeeding,
refer other needs
Breastfeeding counselors need to
recognize that we cannot solve all
our clients' problems. Sometimes
the best we can do is listen.
When appropriate, we can help a
January/February 2000grieving mother establish breast-
feeding.
Often, the counselor can recom-
mend an appropriate support group.
Examples are support groups for
pregnancy loss, SIDS support,
Compassionate Friends (loss of a
child), hospice family support (loss
of an adult), hospitals may have
information on support groups for
parents with babies in NICU.
Local agencies should have a list
of referral resources readily available
so counselors can make appropriate
referrals.
Recognize the stages
Counselors should be trained to
recognize when a client is going
through the grief process. Beingfamiliar with the stages of grief and
how a person may react when deal-
ing with their grief helps counselors
make appropriate responses. The
segment on counseling during the
grieving process in the WIC
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
Manual is based on the work of
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in her book,
"On Death and Dying." She exam-
ines the stages of grief and gives us a
reference for recognizing and
responding to them.Shock is intense
Often, shock is the immediate
reaction to a crisis. This stage is
intense, but brief. A mother may
express disbelief, seem disoriented,
and be unable to listen or make deci-Often, the counselor can recommend an appropri-
ate support group.
Examples are support groups for pregnancy loss,
SIDS support, Compassionate Friends (loss of a child),
and hospice family support (loss of an adult). Also,
hospitals may have information on support groups for
parents with babies in NICU.
Local agencies should have a list of references readily
available so counselors can make appropriate referrals.Texas WIC News
24
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas. Bureau of WIC Nutrition. Texas WIC News, Volume 9, Number 1, January/February 2000, periodical, January 2000; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1625082/m1/24/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.