The photography of neonatal bereavement at Wythenshawe Hospital
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1Department of Medical Illustration, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LY, UK. meredith@sonow.com
A large number of babies are stillborn or die in the neonatal period in Britain every year. This is only a small percentage of births overall, but these babies represent a considerable loss to the parents, and their hopes and ideals both for themselves and for their child. One of the key aids to grieving is memory, and in those cases where babies are born dead or die in utero, a history of the baby needs to be created. Photography can help create this history, and bereaved parents and families have expressed the importance of photographic images in assisting with their grieving process.
A large number of babies are stillborn or die in the neonatal period in Britain every year. This is only a small percentage of births overall, but these babies represent a considerable loss to the parents, and their hopes and ideals both for themselves and for their child. One of the key aids to grieving is memory, and in those cases where babies are born dead or die in utero, a history of the baby needs to be created. Photography can help create this history, and bereaved parents and families have expressed the importance of photographic images in assisting with their grieving process.
