It's your choice whether you want to spend time with your stillborn baby. Some parents say that it can help you to cope with the grief later on.
Most pregnant people with a stillbirth have their providers induce labor soon after they learn of their baby's death. If you decide to wait to go into labor on your own and it doesn't happen by 2 weeks after your baby's death, your provider may induce labor to help prevent dangerous blood clots from developing.
During this time, you should use sanitary pads, not tampons, to minimize the risk of infection. You should also avoid taking baths for the same reason. After a vaginal delivery with a full- or near-term stillbirth, you may have swelling and soreness of your vulva and perineum.
The support of loved ones and close friends is paramount in helping them now and for many years to come. Acknowledge their loss using the baby's name, if they have chosen one, and compassionately listen as they talk about their child, the birth and as they move through their grief.
If your baby dies after 24 weeks of pregnancy, their body must be buried or cremated. It is your decision whether or not to hold a service before the burial or cremation. These are the usual options for the funeral: The hospital can arrange the funeral for you, usually free of charge or for a small fee.
Some parents decide to take their baby home with them. Legally you can do this, unless a coroner or procurator fiscal has ordered a post-mortem.
"Angel Baby," "Sunshine Baby," and "Rainbow Baby" are terms that refer to babies born just before or after another baby is lost due to a variety of reasons. They help immediate family members move through the grieving process and find meaning in the loss.
You may want to take photos of the baby or take handprints or footprints. You may be able to take a lock of hair. Your midwife can help with this. You might want to have two sets of baby items such as blankets, teddies and outfits so the baby can have one set and you can keep the other set for your memory box.
Conclusions. Parents who experience stillbirth have a considerably higher risk of reporting symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD compared with parents with live births.
Stillbirth gives rise to societal, psychological and physical challenges. Both parents can be significantly affected by the stillbirth of their baby, often experiencing grief, anxiety, fear and suffering, even if they may not express these emotions outwardly or immediately.
Stillbirth does not involve only grief; it also involves a trauma or multiple traumas.
Like the two earlier papers, this report provides surprisingly encouraging data. Most babies born unexpectedly without a heartbeat can be successfully resuscitated in the delivery room. Of those successfully resuscitated, 48% survive with normal outcome or mild-moderate disability.
C-section recovery after a stillbirth
You'll spend a few extra days in the hospital, and need more time to rest at home (around four to six weeks) before your body starts to recoup its strength.
Stillbirth can be diagnosed by ultrasound examination to show that the baby's heart is no longer beating. After delivery, the baby is found to be stillborn if there are no signs of life such as breathing, heartbeat, and movements.
At or after 40 weeks, the risk of stillbirth increases, especially for women 35 or older. Their risk, research shows, is doubled from 39 weeks to 40 and is more than six times as high at 42 weeks.
Some states may allow burial of a baby on private property, but others do not - be sure to check with local burial officials if you want to bury a baby in your yard. If you belong to a church, you can ask your pastor or priest to conduct a burial ceremony for the baby.
What are the psychological impacts of stillbirths on mothers and families? Women and their partners who experience stillbirth have higher rates of depression, anxiety and other psychological symptoms that may be long lasting.
Stillbirth is a very sad and difficult experience. Spending time with your stillborn baby and creating memories can help you grieve. After a stillbirth, birthing mothers still experience bleeding, milk production and other normal post-birth changes. Many people can support you after a stillbirth.
Researchers found that 390 families had an excess number of stillbirths over multiple generations, which suggested there could be genetic causes for stillbirth.
The term rainbow baby describes children born after a miscarriage, stillbirth or child death: They're like a beautiful rainbow after a storm.
Grief can be a long process, and you will always hold the memories of your baby close. There are no deadlines, and you shouldn't feel tied to any schedule. Take as much time as you need and know that some days will be better than others.
It's ok to simply say “I can't imagine what you've been through, but I am sorry”. Ask about and use their baby's name and talk about their baby. Ask them why they chose that name. Most parents want people to acknowledge their baby's existence, and the fact that they had a baby.
The pink and blue ribbon is a symbol for promoting: Baby loss awareness, including loss during and after pregnancy, stillbirth, miscarriage, termination for medical reasons, neonatal death and SIDS.
From 1915 up until the 1970s, many American women gave birth in a state called “Twilight Sleep,” which offered them the alluring but misleading promise of a painless birth. Hailed at first as a miracle of modern medicine, twilight sleep was induced by an injection of a morphine- and-scopolamine cocktail.
The rainbow symbol has been used by members of the baby loss community for many years. For some parents, the symbol of a rainbow over-simplifies their experience because the arrival of a rainbow baby doesn't take away the grief they feel about their loss.