Help for parents of dying babies
Categories: Pregnancy & Birth
It is a heartbreaking but unavoidable truth: not every pregnancy results in a healthy, viable baby. Modern technology has made it possible to detect life-threatening defects or complications, throwing expectant parents once bursting with excitement and anticipation headlong into an emotional black hole.
Thankful, perinatal hospice programs that provide medical and emotional support for families with a terminal prenatal diagnosis who decide to continue the pregnancy are starting be be developed. A recent article on MSNBC.com gave me watery eyes reading what a precious and healing gift even just a few moments with a fading newborn can be.
It's comforting to know that in even during the darkest times of this technological age, there are still caring people who make it their life's work to comfort and care for those in need.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kate 3-24-2008 @ 5:56PM
That story made me bawl my eyes out. What beautiful and loving parents bringing a child into life and helping it slip into peace in their arms.
Thankfully people are recognizing the need of hospice care for the tiniest and most innocent of patients.
Reply
Jenn 3-24-2008 @ 10:34PM
I'm with Kate -- that story made me cry.
So beautiful...I'm so glad that the hospices can provide the help and support for these families in what must be the toughest times of their lives. I cannot even imagine being in that situation, but at least they are handling it with grace.
Reply
Sandyone 3-25-2008 @ 12:09AM
Another service for parents of preemies or stillborns is burial gowns. My sister knits them and brings them to the NICU. The nurses there are in a great position to offer them to parents who need them. My sister had to go shopping for a burial outfit for her little son. Even the preemie outfits were too big and how, exactly, do you explain what you're looking for when your baby has so recently been born and died?
There are plenty of places online that offer such items. If you know someone facing an infant loss, do the google for them.
Reply
isisaquaria 3-25-2008 @ 1:49AM
It sucks. I had to shop for our son ...I would hold something and just bawl-trying to talk to the stone people was a nightmare for them I am sure. It took me over an hr to decide because I was busy screaming in between decisions. The hosp was great. I sucked. Everyone walked on eggshells with protective shields until after the funeral--thank goodness they all forgave the GTH looks and the demonized reactions to good intentions.
I still cry every yr on his b-day, and last week was the first time I held a nb boy (less than 6mo) And, I tend to take the lead with our new son, while my honey gets our daughter. I pointed that out earlier and apologized, he just handed me our son. Wow, how did I get so lucky?