Losing a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or perinatal death is a devastating form of child loss with unique challenges.  In addition to losing one’s future with baby, parents have few memories of the child to carry into their own lives.  Parents may leave the health care setting following the death and go home to a prepared but unused nursery.  Many parents find that unpressured time spent with the deceased baby in the hospital, photos taken, and keepsakes such as blankets and baby caps are especially meaningful.
 
While not true for all couples, it is not uncommon for men and women to grieve the loss of a baby differently.  Mothers may experience hormonal upheavals, shock and numbness, and physical pain for several weeks following the death of baby. Men may suffer from less opportunity for a physical attachment to baby. Couples may feel under-supported in the loss of a baby and frequently receive unhelpful comments about the loss being “for the best”, or urging them to have another pregnancy or be grateful for other children.  Such comments diminish the individuality and love of the child who died.