Bereavement care following the death of a baby within a Hospital setting

The death of a baby, at any stage of pregnancy or following birth is a tragic experience that is unique for every bereaved parent. Grief is often strongly associated not only with the loss of the baby but also the hopes and dreams the parents have for the child, themselves and their family. The Women’s Reproductive Loss Service is committed to providing the best possible care to the baby and bereaved family. This multidisciplinary service is designed to be timely, comprehensive and responsive to the individual needs of the bereaved woman and her family in the early stages of bereavement within a tertiary hospital setting. Through the use of empirical evidence and clinical experience the objective of the presentation is to discuss themes associated with the death of a baby and share how to facilitate and support bereaved parents to develop meaningful relationships and memories with their baby, when the hello, goodbye is short and sudden.
At the conclusion of this individual paper presentation the audience will have gained greater confidence, skills and strategies to support newly bereaved families. They will also have a clear understanding of the bereavement care provided within a tertiary hospital setting.