Parents' support of their other children after a miscarriage or perinatal death

Objectives: This study, which grew out of the author's counselling work wit h the Edinburgh Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society, explores the way par ents who have recently lost a baby support other children in the family. In view of recent research in America on the continuing but changing bonds wi th the deceased, the place which the parents give to the deceased baby in t he ongoing life of the family was also examined. Design of study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight families who had i nitially contacted the Edinburgh Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SAN DS). Results: The kinds of support parents provided and felt was needed fel l under three main headings: recognising and acknowledging the child's grie f, including the child in family rituals and keeping the baby alive in the family memory. Conclusions. While there was some consistency in the kinds o f support parents recognised as required, the parents own circumstances and beliefs influenced the way support was given. Further research might explo re these factors with a larger sample. There did seem to be a recognition b y parents, in their longer-term support and the range of family activities, of continuing and changing bonds with the deceased baby rather than the se vering of bonds. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved .