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GRIEF RESOURCES
FOR THE MOTHER Labor & Delivery Saying Goodbye Maternity Leave w/no Baby Build a Network of Support Journal Embrace Your Inner Artist Get Active Remembering Your Baby Read About Grief & Healing Become a Support for Others Pregnancy After Loss FOR THE FATHER/PARTNER FOR THE SIBLING FOR THE GRANDPARENT FOR THE CAREGIVER HOW DO I SUPPORT A GRIEVING FRIEND? GALLERY: GRIEF IN IMAGES HOTLINE FOR GRIEF SUPPORT 1-800-221-7437 Offered 24/7 by First Candle |
Resources for the grieving MoTherLABOR & DELIVERY
Learning that your baby has died will have been shocking and may blind you to the sad truth that you will still need to go through labor. It is rare that a stillbirth occurs via C-Section because this type of delivery brings a higher risk for infection and a significantly more difficult recovery period. Some medical teams prefer to have you induced immediately and others give the option of returning a day or two later so that you have time to process what is happening first. Your doctor will give you the option of having a natural birth or an epidural. I wanted to feel every moment that I had with my baby girl (and I had an irrational fear that an epidural might mean that I couldn't hold her while she was still warm), so I chose to give birth naturally. I had gotten epidurals with both of my sons and found that my physical recovery was significantly faster with a natural birth. This was important to me as I began the long journey of grieving because it meant that I could hike (albeit very slowly and carefully...) even ten days after being discharged from the hospital...and hiking helped me begin my emotional healing. Things to consider as you face labor and delivery of your stillborn baby:
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