Issues concerning parents after the death of their newborn

Thirty-five families were interviewed by members of the intensive care nursery staff 2-4 months after the death of their newborn. Of the families interviewed, 74% wanted to review the events leading to their child's death and ask questions about information they already knew. Most families who were interested in the autopsy findings used the results to find out "how normal everything else was." Topics frequently discussed by parents involved feelings of guilt and problems that arose after the infant's death (isolation by friends, somatic complaints, marital and sexual problems, memories of prior losses, problems with siblings and disposal of baby's things). One-third of the families were felt to need continuing emotional support due to their inability to assume previously accepted responsibilities. For many families, the physician may be the only individual who can tolerate listening to their distress.