Support for Parents After Infant Loss

By The TEARS International Bahamas Chapter

Losing a child at any age is the hardest thing in the world. But when that occurs during early miscarriage, stillbirth or even when the child is an infant, many bereaved mother’s biggest struggle is to make known that we will forever be that child’s mother. And for this reason, TEARS International Bahamas Chapter exists. We believe that every child’s life deserves to be honoured and memorialized in accordance with the grieving parents’ wishes. We are committed to helping bereaved parents with this experience.

TERMINOLOGY

Fetal Death: the intrauterine death of a fetus at any gestational age

Perinatal Death: a death around the time of delivery, includes both fetal deaths and neonatal deaths.

Neonatal Death: a death during the first 28 days of life (0-27 days)

Infant Death: the loss of a child up to 1 year od.

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID): The death of an infant younger than one year of age that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly. A full investigation is done to determine the cause of these deaths and diagnoses can include infection, suffocation caused by ingestion, entrapment or accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed, metabolic diseases, cardiac arrhythmias, trauma (accidental or non-accidental) and SIDS.

SIDS: a category of SUID in which the death of an infant under one year old cannot be explained even after a full investigation that includes a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history. TEARS want all families to know that they are not alone and that there can be HOPE after the loss of your precious baby. Many of our volunteers have experienced the loss of a child, so we are fully committed to compassionately providing you with the tools needed on your journey of healing.

Ways to Heal

IN HOSPITAL

Take Photos with your baby

Name your baby

Get hand and foot prints

Read and sing to your baby

AT HOME

Have a ceremony for your baby

Talk about your baby.

Journal/Write about your loss

Join TEARS Support

How to Support Your Friend

Take Action! Bring meals, help with their children, feed the dog, clean the house, do laundry, etc.

Talk with them about their baby and use their baby's name.

Stay away from clichés like, “Everything happens for a reason” or “At least you can have other children”.

Listen and listen some more.

Value their baby. Recognize anniversary dates and acknowledge the family at those times.

For more information about The TEARS International Bahamas Chapter, please visit https://thetearsfoundation.org/bahamas/ or email bahamasproject@ thetearsfoundation.org .The Bahamas Chapter is an affiliate of The TEARS Foundation, an international organization that seeks to compassionately lift a financial burden from families who have lost a child by providing funds to assist with the cost of burial or cremation services. They also offer parents comprehensive bereavement care in the form of grief support groups and peer companions. Find your local Chapter.