A stillbirth can be emotionally traumatic for both the mother and father. Some parents may experience feelings of guilt or anxiety following the loss of their baby.
After a stillbirth, you may be offered counselling. This gives you an opportunity to talk to a trained professional about what you are going through
A counsellor is trained to listen sympathetically and they will be able to help you find ways of coping with your grief. Many hospitals and most GPs can refer parents for counselling following the death of their baby.
Sometimes, a stillbirth can have a prolonged emotional effect on parents and families, so counselling may be helpful. Counsellors may also be able to provide you with advice and guidance about how to explain the stillbirth to other children you may have and how to help them grieve.
Some parents become very depressed or experience post-traumatic stress disorder following the loss of a baby. These conditions can be treated and you should seek the support and advice of your GP.
Read more about depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Support groups
Support groups can also help if you have had a stillbirth.
Sands (the stillbirth and neonatal death charity) provides support for anyone who is affected by the death of a baby. The charity runs a helpline and funds research into the causes of stillbirth.
You can call the confidential helpline on 020 7436 5881, or you can email them confidentially (helpline@uk-sands.org). The helpline is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. It is also open later on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 6pm to 10pm.
There are many other self-help groups in the UK for bereaved parents and their families. You can use the find services directory to find bereavement support services in your area. These support groups are usually run by parents who have experienced stillbirth or by healthcare professionals, such as baby loss support workers or specialist midwives.
Special memories packs, memorial gardens, remembrance services and books of dedication are all possible ways of honouring stillborn babies. See the Live Well section for more information about dealing with loss.
