Abstract:
Miscarriage and stillbirth are not rare events and losing a baby can have an overwhelming and long-term impact on parents, existing and subsequent children, and on wider family Potential parents’ feelings of devastation, intense grief, anxiety, guilt and self-blame and loss following such a death, have been identified in literature written over past centuries. Fifty years ago miscarriage and stillbirth were a private matter and unspoken of, leaving parents to manage their grief alone. The presentation aims to shine a light on the changes in attitudes and the support available to those who have experienced miscarriage and perinatal death since the 1960s. A review of relevant research, policy and practice identified significant advances in medical science and major changes to the law; changes that have influenced attitudes to abortion, same-sex parenthood, and single mothers. Medical advances have made childbirth safer and the use of IVF has extended the opportunity of motherhood to a wider group of women. The campaigning of numerous charities has led to far greater understanding of the impact of baby loss on parental mental health and parenting capacity. Their work in conjunction with the NHS has resulted in greater information and support being provided to grieving parents within both hospital and community settings and in Government commitment to providing high quality bereavement care.
