Having a loved one in the hospital can be stressful. It disrupts family routines and family life. To support families, we offer:

Depression After Delivery Support - Trained staff provide support to women at risk for or who are experiencing postpartum depression. Let your nurse know if you need more information or a follow-up phone call after you go home.

Breastfeeding Resources - Certified lactation consultants support breastfeeding families. A Breastfeeding Resource Center supplies equipment for rent or purchase. For more information, please call (320) 251-2700, ext. 52311.

Bereavement Support Group - This support group assists families experiencing a loss of an infant through newborn death, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Call (320) 251-2700, ext. 53528, for information.

Pediatric Bereavement Services - This comprehensive grief program offers assistance to the dying child and the family experiencing this devastating event. Call (320) 251-2700, ext. 71319, for information.

Pediatric Palliative Care - This program focuses on relief of pain and other symptoms due to serious, life-threatening illnesses. Call (320) 229-4935 for information.

Family Lounge - Our Pediatric Unit has family lounges with dining areas, microwave, TV/VCR, phone and computer with Internet access. The Family Birthing Center has a family lounge with TV, computer with Internet access and pop machine.

Women & Family Resource Center - This resource center contains newsletters, books, videos and Internet access. Topics include infant care, parenting, nutrition and emotional support. The center is located at CentraCare Health Plaza on the second level. For more information, call (320) 229-5139.

Child Life Specialists - These professionals prepare children for medical procedures, provide distractions for children during treatments, advocate the viewpoints of children and lend emotional support to patients and siblings. For more information, call (320) 229-5139.

March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program - This program assistes families in the NICU during their hospital stay and transition home. The program provides both informational and emotional support. Our NICU is the only one in Minnesota to have this March of Dimes resource. For more information, call (320) 251-2700, ext. 56004.

Animal-Assisted Therapy - A trained therapy dog and its handler provides comfort and distraction to both children and adults. For more information, call (320) 251-2700, ext. 52257.

Other Services

• Pediatric behavioral health professionals help families manage the emotional issues that often accompany diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening or chronic diseases.
• Women and family health education, networking and parent advisory councils
• Car seat information
• HEAR First program (newborn hearing screen)
• CaringBridge (personalized Web page to keep families and friends updated on a patient's health condition)
• A free, monthly e-newsletter customized for you and your family
• St. Cloud Hospital Home Care provides NICU follow-up visits and other services to high-risk infants and children. Services include IgG infusions, synagis injections, bilirubin lights and pediatric rehabilitation therapy. Please call (800) 835-6610 for more information.
• Pediatric surgery tours - Prepare your child for surgery with a guided tour, which includes a take-home activity bag. Call (320) 229-5139 for an appointment or view our Ava Goes to Surgery video.