Coping with the Loss of your Baby...

• Put yourself first. Be gentle with yourself.
• Lack of energy and an inability to concentrate accompanies grief. You have experienced the death of your baby and all the dreams that accompany welcoming a new life into your family.     It is okay to cry.
• Recognize that you will experience a wide range of emotions, such as sadness, guilt, and anger.  You may feel jealous towards parents who have a healthy baby.  Seeing pregnant women may remind you of your loss.  This is “normal” and does not make you a bad person.
• Force yourself to eat healthy even though you may not feel hungry.
• Give your sorrow words. Pick up a notebook and write down your thoughts and feelings. Write a letter to your baby.
• Don’t worry about sleeping too much while you are grieving. Sleep is restorative-so do what you can to maximize it.
• Your relationship with your partner is the most important and should take precedence over all others. Be gentle with each other and understand that we all grieve differently.
• Be prepared that not everyone will understand how you are feeling. Many people, although well intentioned, will say the wrong things. Some people may avoid you altogether because they are afraid of saying the wrong thing and upsetting you.
• If you are feeling stuck, don’t be afraid to ask for help.