Psychosocial care during a subsequent pregnancy after sudden infant death (SID). Results of a long-term study* on 115 families

Background: Every subsequent pregnancy after the loss of a child due to Sud den Infant Death (SID) causes highly anxious parents. The aim of this inves tigation was to point out which feelings and experiences have to be conside red as influencing factors for a following pregnancy - besides being afraid of a repeated loss. The overlapping fixing of our aim was to develop some proposals and recommendations for a capable accompanying during a subsequen t pregnancy. Materials: The base of the evaluation were 789 consultations during long-te rm cares of 115 families affected by Sudden Infant Death (SID). When their children died because of SID 9 of all the mothers were pregnant again. In t he families which were cared for half-a-year or longer (n=80), 47 (58.7%) s ubsequent pregnancies became known. All gravidities occurred within one yea r after SID except two cases. Results: We found a strong exigency for information, structure and protecti on during the whole pregnancy. This fact can be deducted from a high potent ial of anxiety and fear within the parents. Furthermore, our investigation revealed considerable doubts of the mothers about their parental competence and altered, but still intensive affects of grief yet confidence and great joy as well. Besides, we also observed problematic social experiences, as e.g. hushing up of the dead child or a lacking acceptance of grief by the s ocial environment. Conclusions: A supporting and reliefing accompanying during a subsequent pr egnancy comprises a continuous enlightenment of parents by being honest and open even in giving unpleasant and burdensome informations. It is recommen ded to show understanding for the exceeding anxieties of the parents, to of fer them more possibilities of examinations and conversations as usually ap propriate and to talk to them about their dead child and grief. Often the a rrangement of contact to a parent-self-help association is the essential of fer of support.