Author: Sarah Garvey

Assigning blame is a common and normal response in situations that feel out of your control. Here, we explore strategies for supportive communication during this unimaginable time.

As the experts and care providers, parents look to you for knowledge, medical care, and support. The language you use to communicate the diagnosis shapes how heard, supported, and validated a parent feels.

What you and your significant other are experiencing is not an easy process, so it makes sense that you might experience some breakdowns in communication and, as a result, some conflicts.

There is no doubt that what is being asked of you is heavy, complex, and difficult. This process is hard, but it is also rewarding.

As the grieving parents, only you will know what you need most during this season.

This day is about pausing to hold space for the babies whose lives ended too soon. It is about entering in and remembering the parents, their love for their child, and their desire to honor that baby.

Not only is sharing the news a chance for your coworkers to walk alongside you and offer support, it is also a form of self-care and advocacy.

First and foremost, you are in control of this part of the carrying to term process. How and when you tell your family and friends about the diagnosis and prognosis for your baby is entirely up to you and your significant other.

The primary purpose of prenatal counseling is to educate and equip parents to make informed decisions in the months ahead.

Not only are grandparents navigating their own grief, they also help carry the weight of their child’s grief while supporting the needs of the family their child has created.

Since perinatal loss has negative impacts on parents, both psychologically and socially, it is imperative that medical professionals intervene as early in the carrying to term process as possible.

While there will likely be many decisions that have to be made in the moment during labor, delivery, and postpartum care, a birth plan serves to help you ensure that your parents’ wishes are honored.