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On Mother's Day 2025, mailboxes throughout the Rochester region will be filled with greeting cards. Among them will be handwritten notes from obstetrics office staff associated with Strong Memorial Hospital.

The message will be simple: "We're thinking of you. You're not alone".

A card can't take away the pain of a first Mother's Day without a newborn in the nursery, but it can provide a brief moment of comfort and connection.

"It's just about saying, 'We care'" says Dr. Ponnila Marinescu, the maternal-fetal medicine specialist leading the Outpatient Perinatal Loss Program at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ.

"It's just about saying, 'We care'"

An Infrastructure of Care

Dr. Marinescu, alongside many members of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, has intentionally built an 'infrastructure of care', balancing the need for processes that ensure equity and sustainability with the core value of maintaining a personalized, human touch.

The idea for the Outpatient Perinatal Loss Program arose when Dr. Marinescu saw an opportunity to improve continuity of care. She recognized that families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss receive excellent care in the hospital on Labor and Delivery, and wondered how we could extend that same level of care once families return home.

"Before this program, patients often felt like, 'Everybody was so focused on me, and then suddenly I was left in this empty space, unsure of how to move forward,'" explains Dr. Marinescu.

To address this gap, the Outpatient Perinatal Loss Program places a "Loss Coordinator" in every obstetrical practice that delivers at Strong Memorial Hospital. Each Loss Coordinator receives additional education on supporting parents after a pregnancy or infant loss, and walks through a series of touchpoints with every patient.

I could not be more proud of Dr. Marinescu. In addition to providing outstanding care, she has created a way to teach future physicians about compassionate loss care.

How the Program Works

The first touchpoint is three days after they leave the hospital. The Loss Coordinator sends a message or places a call to let the family know that "We're thinking of you, we're here for you". There’s no expectation of a response—just a simple message from the health care team saying, "We care."

Next, the Loss Coordinator ensures that the individual who carried the pregnancy has a follow-up visit with their care team. This visit is essential for monitoring the patient's physical health, such as checking an incision or blood pressure, and for ensuring that their mental health needs are being addressed. It also provides an opportunity to connect the patient with valuable resources, like the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group, led by a behavioral health specialist with expertise in the obstetrical setting.

Beyond this initial visit, the frequency and purpose of future visits will vary based on the individual's needs and wishes. However, the Loss Coordinator ensures that every family who has experienced a loss continues to receive compassionate outreach from the office, including Mother's Day and Father's Day cards.

The Persephone Clinic

At some point, many loss parents want to have a discussion with a medical professional about what happened in the pregnancy, and how it might impact their future. That's the purpose behind Dr. Marinescu's Persephone Clinic.

Named after the Greek goddess who returns from the underworld to bring new life and renewal, the Persephone Clinic offers a space for families to reflect on their pregnancy experience, often with the hope of conceiving again. "It’s a combination of medical consultation, pre-conception counseling, and grief support—so it serves multiple purposes" says Dr. Marinescu.

The Persephone Clinic is held on the first and third Fridays of every month, as well as most Thursday afternoons, at Strong Perinatal Associates in the Red Creek office park in Henrietta.

When asked what she most wants to share about pregnancy and infant loss, Dr. Marinescu says: "In American culture, pregnancy loss is not a subject that is publicly discussed. It is either still somewhat taboo or idealistic thinking that a normal pregnancy with a healthy baby delivered at term is a guaranteed right—not a privilege​.