title: Untold stories of infant loss: the importance of contact with the baby for bereaved parents.
abstract: This article presents secondary analysis of data from parents who, 50 to 70 years ago, birthed stillborn babies or babies with lethal anomalies and from adult children born after these losses. The stories reflect a time in history when parents were "protected" from seeing or holding their babies and mothers were unable to attend the funeral. There was no understanding by society or caregivers for parents' need to process the loss or resources to build memories. They provide a strong argument for health care providers to offer such resources to parents today and offer grief support.
authors.affiliation: Field faculty, Center for Early Education and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneaplis, MN 55418, USA. jandj@pro-ns.net
authors.forename: Joann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Warland
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001601:Bereavement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: elderly parents; infant loss; subsequent child; support after loss