After Loss: Journey of the Next Pregnancy

Through sessions with families and the child care professionals who serve them, this video provides information about the emotional tasks of pregnancy after loss (from death or from the birth of a child with special needs) and offers validation to parents for the courage required to fall in love with another baby.

The video was created to help families understand that they are not alone in their experience and in their feelings, and to enhance health care professionals' understanding of how to support parents and help them focus on the new baby. Five emotional tasks of pregnancy after loss are described: fear of a new pregnancy, avoidance of attachment for fear of future loss, unwillingness to give up grieving out of loyalty to the lost baby, attaching to the unborn child as an individual person, and grieving the loss of self-the part that is the parent.

The meaning of each task unfolds as mothers, fathers, grandparents and health professionals describe the impact of a pregnancy where hope is intertwined with grief. Professionals are encouraged to listen and allow parents to lead them.

Mothers and fathers describe the power of their feelings and needs, and suggest concrete and meaningful ways in which help can be provided. The Manual was developed to assist health care providers in assessing and providing support to families during the next pregnancy. Actual case studies illustrate the developmental process of pregnancy that occurs following a loss.

Includes: VHS with Manual
Produced By: Joann O'Leary, MPH, MS and Clare Thorwick, RN, Abbot Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN.
Running Time: 32 minutes