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Your Mind, Body, & Spirit
Caring for Yourself After Pregnancy & Infant Loss

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  • Eat·Grow·Live Healthy
  • Women
  • Pregnancy Loss
  • Emotional Health
  • Nutrition
  • Lactation
  • Resources
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WIC offers our deepest sympathy to you and your family during this emotional time. Please know you are not alone. Support and resources are available to help you heal and take care of your mind, body, and spirit as you recover from pregnancy loss.

Emotional Health

Red circle on white background.

Grief can feel overwhelming at times. If you feel this way, you are not alone. Working through grief is a process and your feelings will change over time. If these feelings become too much, talk to your healthcare provider.

Red circle on white background.

Talking with other people who have lost a baby may help you through this time. Consider attending a support group to help you in the healing process.

Person in hospital gown sitting, head in hands.

Nutrition

When you are grieving, you may not feel hungry or have much of an appetite. Try the following tips to get the good nutrition your body needs to heal and to help you feel better.

  • ✓ Set a timer to remind yourself to eat small, regular meals.
  • ✓ Keep healthy, easy snack foods on hand, like cheese, carrots, grapes, etc.
  • ✓ Make foods that look and smell good.
  • ✓ Take a multivitamin.

WIC Provides Food With The Nutrition Your Body Needs to Recover

Protein

Peanut butter, eggs, and beans on white plates.
Protein in eggs, peanut butter, and beans help your body rebuild and repair.

Iron

Cereal, baked beans, and beans displayed in bowls.

Iron in beans, lentils, and cereal helps keep your blood healthy and can improve energy levels.

Vitamins and Minerals

Broccoli, carrots, and strawberries arranged on white plates.

Vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables aid
swift healing.

Calcium

Milk, yogurt, and cheese displayed in bowls.

Calcium in milk, cheese, and yogurt help keep your bones and teeth healthy and strong.

Lactation

While it may be a difficult reminder of your loss, it’s important to know your body may still make milk. You can choose to pump and donate your human milk to other babies in need, or you can take steps to suppress your milk. A lactation consultant or your healthcare provider can help.

WIC provides breast pumps to qualified bereaved mothers. Contact your local WIC Clinic for assistance.

The Oklahoma Mothers’ Milk Bank (OMMB) accepts human milk donations to help vulnerable babies receive the nutrition they need.

To learn more or find a drop off location, click here:

Oklahoma Mothers’ Milk Bank

Resources:

Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support

The National Share office hosts weekly online group chats that are free of charge.
Learn more and connect by clicking here:

National Share

Parents Responding to Infant Death Experience (PRIDE)

Health Plex Hospital
3300 Healthplex Parkway
Norman, OK 73072
Call 405-515-3520 and leave voicemail regarding PRIDE services.

Calm Waters

Pregnancy Loss, Infant Loss, and Infertility
Call 405-841-4800 or email info@calmwaters.org.

CALM WATERS

Butterfly Wings

445 Fairview Ave
Ponca City, OK 74601
580-762-9102

Butterfly Wings

MEND

5401 S. Harvard Ave
Tulsa, OK 74135
918-694-4325 or cat@mend.org

MEND

The Compassionate Friends

Online support for parents, grandparents, and siblings grieving the death of a child.

The Compassionate Friends

Oklahoma SIDS Program

Oklahoma State Department of Health
Maternal and Child Health Service
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave, Ste. 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
1-405-426-8113 or MCH@health.ok.gov

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    Two abstract figures with interlocking hands and circles.

    HAND EXPRESSION

    How it works

    Use your hand to gently massage and compress your breast to remove milk.

    What’s Involved

    • Requires practice, skill, and coordination.
    • Gets easier with practice and can be as fast as pumping.
    • Good if you are not often away from your baby or you need an option that is always with you. All moms should know how to hand express, in case they need to do it unexpectedly.

    Average Cost

    Free

    Illustration of diverse fruits and vegetables forming colorful patterns.

    Side-Lying Hold

    1. For the right breast, lie on your right side with your baby facing you.
    2. Pull your baby close. Your baby’s mouth should be level with your nipple.
    3. In this position, you can cradle your baby’s back with your left arm and support yourself with your right arm and/or pillows.
    4. Keep loose clothing and bedding away from your baby.
    5. Reverse for the left breast.

    This hold is useful when:

    • You had a C-section
    • You want to rest while baby feeds
    • You are breastfeeding in the middle of the night
    • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
    Owl with outstretched wings soaring gracefully in flight.

    Cross-Cradle Hold

    1. For the right breast, use your left arm to hold your baby’s head at your right breast and baby’s body toward your left side. A pillow across your lap can help support your left arm.
    2. Gently place your left hand behind your baby’s ears and neck, with your thumb and index finger behind each ear and your palm between baby’s shoulder blades. Turn your baby’s body toward yours so your tummies are touching.
    3. Hold your breast as if you are squeezing a sandwich. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
    4. As your baby’s mouth opens, push gently with your left palm on baby’s head to help them latch on. Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way.
    5. Reverse for the left breast.

    This hold is useful when:

    • Your baby is premature
    • Your baby has a weak suck
    • Your baby needs help to stay latched
    • Your baby needs extra head support
    • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
    "Happy cartoon family holding hands, smiling together."

    Clutch or “Football” Hold

    1. For the right breast, hold your baby level, facing up, at your right side.
    2. Put your baby’s head near your right nipple and support their back and legs under your right arm.
    3. Hold the base of your baby’s head with your right palm. A pillow underneath your right arm can help support your baby’s weight.
    4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Bring baby to you instead.
    5. Reverse for the left breast.

    This hold is useful when:

    • You had a C-section
    • You have large breasts
    • You have flat or inverted nipples
    • You have a strong milk let-down
    • You are breastfeeding twins
    • Your baby likes to feed in an upright position
    • Your baby has reflux
    • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
    Stylized abstract shapes forming an intricate pattern.

    Cradle Hold

    1. For the right breast, cradle your baby with your right arm. Your baby will be on their left side across your lap, facing you at nipple level.
    2. Your baby’s head will rest on your right forearm with your baby’s back along your inner arm and palm.
    3. Turn your baby’s tummy toward your tummy. Your left hand is free to support your breast, if needed. Pillows can help support your arm and elbow.
    4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
    5. Reverse for the left breast.

    This hold is useful when:

    • Your baby needs help latching on
    • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
    "Abstract pattern of colorful overlapping shapes and circles."

    Laid-Back Hold

    1. Lean back on a pillow with your baby’s tummy touching yours and their head at breast level. Some moms find that sitting up nearly straight works well. Others prefer to lean back and lie almost flat.
    2. You can place your baby’s cheek near your breast, or you may want to use one hand to hold your breast near your baby. It’s up to you and what you think feels best.
    3. Your baby will naturally find your nipple, latch, and begin to suckle.

    This hold is useful when:

    • Your baby is placed on your chest right after birth
    • You have a strong milk let-down
    • You have large breasts
    • You and your baby are comfortable in this position