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Presentation Information

Denise Love

Caring For A Family When A Baby Dies

  • Speaker: Denise Love , RN, MN
  • Presentation Type:
  • Duration: 60 Mins
  • Credits: 1 CERP, 1 Nursing CEU, 1 CME, 0.1 Midwifery CEU
Abstract:

Death is an extraordinary “thing” in our society. Since the invention of modern medicine, death has become the enemy, the unexcepted, the unacceptable, something to fight against, and a failure. Notwithstanding the fact that death is the only known certainty in life, we are shocked and overly distressed about it. There seems to be a hierarchy in death, that children shouldn’t die. It isn’t too many years ago that a mother expected with her large family that she would “lose” 2-3 children. That is still my experience in developing countries. I bring with me balance of modern medicine working together with educated mothers, and traditional expectations and practices, to try and find that balance in our work.

I will be discussing a baby as meaning from the moment of conception through to first year of life. We will explore the concept that as health professionals how our own thoughts, feelings, fears and beliefs influence how we respond to a mother and her family. The behaviours and expectations of the people around her influence her grief path, therefore we need to be clear and conscious in our communication. Examine rituals and behaviours that can alleviate some of her devastation, relief or pain.