College of Medicine
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University of Nebraska Medical Center

Volunteer - Pregnancy Success and Support Program

Volunteer to provide pregnant patient support

The UNMC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology launched the Pregnancy Success and Support Program in Fall 2023 to create meaningful volunteer opportunities for medical and nursing students. Through this program, volunteers provide labor support and boredom busters for pregnant inpatients at Nebraska Medicine.

Student Spotlight: Grace Berentson, UNMC Third-Year Medical Student & PSSP President
“Volunteering has transformed my clinical confidence and teamwork. I now walk into labor and delivery with a clear understanding of what to expect, how to assist nurses during pushing, and how to interpret fetal heart tones. Having supported a mother through labor firsthand has been an incredible advantage.”
— Grace Berentson, October 16, 2025
Student providing support to a patient

Labor Support

Provide compassionate, non-medical assistance to individuals in labor by offering encouragement, companionship, and focused attention. Research consistently shows that continuous labor support leads to significant benefits, including:

  • Lower cesarean rates
  • Shorter labor duration and reduced need for oxytocin
  • Fewer requests for epidural anesthesia
  • Reduced birth complications

Beyond clinical outcomes, patients report a more positive and empowering birth experience when accompanied by a supportive presence. Your role as a labor support volunteer can make a meaningful difference in both physical and emotional well-being during childbirth. 

Patient with a crochet project

Boredom Busters

Help brighten the day for pregnant patients on bed rest by offering games, crafts, conversation, educational activities, and creative engagement. These interactions do more than pass the time—they provide real emotional and mental health benefits, including:

  • Reduced maternal stress and anxiety
  • Lower risk of depression
  • Decreased feelings of isolation and loneliness

Your presence can transform a challenging hospital stay into a more positive and supportive experience for patients awaiting birth.

Volunteer Information

  • Obtain experience in the obstetrics specialty while working one-on-one with a patient.
  • Report your volunteer hours on your curriculum vitae.  
  • Meet people who work in this specialty, work with support staff , and develop relationships with experts in the field.
  • View the delivery of health care to a broad spectrum of patients.
Prior to volunteering, all students will be required to complete a two-hour online training module that will inform them about basic antepartum and intrapartum care to best assist a patient with one-on-one care. The program leadership team will add volunteers to the Pregnancy Success and Support Program Canvas course.

Volunteers need to commit to:

  • One year of volunteering
  • Four-hour shifts
  • Volunteer at least once a quarter
For further information please contact the PSSP President Grace Berentson and Co-President Emma Buddenhagen.

President

Co-Vice Presidents

Secretary

Volunteer Representatives

Co-Directors

Instructional Designer