Perinatal Hospice
Phillip Stumpf Perinatal Hospice Program
What Is Perinatal Hospice?
Perinatal hospice is not a physical place—it is a compassionate approach to caring for families who receive a life-limiting or terminal diagnosis for their unborn child. This care honors the dignity of both mother and baby and surrounds families with medical, emotional, and spiritual support throughout pregnancy, delivery, and beyond. Every life, no matter how brief, matters.
The Story Behind the Program
The Phillip Stumpf Perinatal Hospice Program is named in loving memory of Phillip Stumpf, who was delivered prematurely stillborn due to maternal medical complications. Phillip’s sudden passing deeply affected not only his family, but also their physician, Dr. Freeman Brndjar, and the entire care team who walked alongside them from joyful anticipation, to delivery, and through funeral planning and remembrance.
Phillip’s life and death became a powerful witness to the truth that life is a gift to be treasured and honored, regardless of its length. His family’s journey inspired the creation of this program so that other families facing a terminal pregnancy would never have to walk alone.
Our Mission
The mission of the Phillip Stumpf Perinatal Hospice Program is to provide compassionate, life-affirming obstetric care for mothers and families whose babies receive a terminal diagnosis before birth. Our goal is to support parents in carrying their baby to natural delivery, allowing families to experience a lifetime of love—no matter how brief—together.
A Life-Affirming Alternative
Popular culture often presents pregnancy termination as the default response to poor prenatal diagnoses. Many families are told that “the outcome will be the same,” regardless of whether life is carried to term. We believe this message overlooks the profound value of time, love, and connection between parents and their baby.
True perinatal hospice recognizes that there is no rush. Mothers want to be with their babies—especially when their babies are sick. By allowing nature to take its course and providing true hospice care within the womb, families are given the priceless gift of loving their child for all of his or her life.
Studies show that when families are offered the option of perinatal hospice, approximately 80% choose to continue the pregnancy. Perinatal hospice is a compassionate and hopeful alternative to pregnancy termination.
Voices of Parents
Parents who have walked this journey often speak of deep sorrow combined with profound love, peace, and gratitude. Many describe the experience not as morbid, but as a powerful surge of love—an opportunity to honor their child’s life, even in loss. Their testimonies reflect a common truth: carrying their babies to term allowed them to parent, to love fully, and to find healing in the midst of grief.
Services Offered Through United Hearts Life Mission
The Phillip Stumpf Perinatal Hospice Program is offered through the United Hearts Life Mission for families experiencing a poor prenatal diagnosis. Services include:
• Early identification of babies with life-limiting conditions
• In-depth consultation with Dr. Freeman Brndjar, including review of screenings, diagnostic testing, and continued education about the baby’s condition
• Education and support for parents choosing to continue their pregnancy
• Ongoing reassurance that these conditions are not painful for the baby prior to birth, as the mother’s body provides all that is needed
• Comprehensive medical care and seamless support through pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and up to one year following birth
• A complimentary ultrasound
• Infant loss support materials, including a heartbeat bear with the option to record the baby’s heartbeat
• Referrals and connections to additional local and national supportive resources
You Are Not Alone
Families facing a terminal prenatal diagnosis are navigating one of life’s most painful journeys. Through the Phillip Stumpf Perinatal Hospice Program, we walk beside you with compassion, dignity, and unwavering support—honoring both your child’s life and your family’s love every step of the way.
Additional Resources
Perinatal hospice support for families receiving a life-limiting diagnosis in pregnancy and emergent support for those who experience the loss of a baby in any gestation
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS) offers the gift of healing, hope and honor to parents experiencing the death of a baby through the overwhelming power of remembrance portraits. Professional-level photographers volunteer their time to conduct an intimate portrait session, capturing the only moments parents spend with their babies. Parents are gifted with delicately retouched heirloom black and white portraits free of charge.
M.E.N.D. (Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death) is a Christian, non-profit organization that reaches out to families who have suffered the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant death.
http://www.teamtinytreasures.weebly.com
Team Tiny Treasures is a group of volunteers providing support, clothing and other goods to families facing or experiencing perinatal loss.
Heaven's Gain Ministries provides for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of families before, during, and after the birth of their precious child.