In recognition of national Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, Sanford Health and the Sanford Health Foundation have announced plans to establish the state’s first-ever birthing and bereavement suite inside the Sanford USD Medical Center.
The suite, made possible entirely through philanthropy, will serve as a peaceful, private space where grieving mothers and their loved ones can find comfort, emotional support, resources and — more than anything — the time they need to say goodbye.
“Each year, thousands of women throughout the U.S. experience the devastation and heartbreak of pregnancy and infant loss. By establishing the state’s first birthing and bereavement suite, we can ensure no mother walks through loss without the care she deserves,” said Erin Sanderson, vice president for the Sanford Health Foundation in Sioux Falls. “It’s what our patients need and deserve. It’s compassionate care when it matters most. So we are honored to bring this project to our community.”
More details about the birthing and bereavement suite will be released in the coming months but for now, Sanderson said, community support is needed to advance the project.
Enhancing Care for Women and Children
The birthing and bereavement suite is the first in a series of initiatives Sanford Health is introducing in the coming year to enhance care for women and children, no matter where they live, including:
- Expanded access for women in care deserts — places where essential health services are limited or out of reach — through mobile ultrasound units, leading-edge remote technology, the addition of more multilingual community health workers and more.
- Enhanced pregnancy care — from the first trimester through delivery, recovery and beyond —through advanced maternal-fetal medicine services, expanded prenatal care for women in rural areas, specialized mental health support for women before and after delivery and more.
- Continued advancements at the Sanford Children’s Boekelheide Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the region’s only Level IV NICU.
- Lifesaving emergency care just for kids through the new David H. & Christine Billion Pediatric Emergency Department, opening in early 2026.
Learn more about our plans to enhance women’s health across the Sioux Falls region.
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Since our founding in 1894, Sanford Health has been committed to providing world-class care for women and children. Today, we turn the page to a new chapter in women’s health and pediatric care — one where we can broaden and deepen our work to provide compassionate care for women and children when it matters most, while also addressing emerging needs across our region.
Vice President of Sanford Health Foundation Sioux Falls
Give for Good. Give for Love.
With your support, we can ensure no mother walks through loss without the care she deserves. 100% of your gift today will support the new birthing and bereavement suite.
This peaceful, private space will provide grieving mothers and their loved ones comfort, emotional support, resources and the time they need to say goodbye.
The suite will also feature specialized equipment currently supported by philanthropy, including Cuddle Cots, a small cooling device that slows natural changes so parents can hold their child in an unhurried and dignified way, and the Comfort Cub, a custom weighted teddy bear designed to provide comfort to grieving mothers experiencing the physical ache of empty arms.