Top 10 list of what you need to know when someone’s baby dies: 1. Always be kind. Hurtful words are often intended to be kind. But check: Are you assuming this person is doing the best they can under the circumstance? Before you do or say anything — first, be kind. 2. This loss is not a lesson. A parent may at some point discover something about themselves or the world as a direct consequence of this loss. But that does not make this loss a lesson. God nor the universe caused a child to die so someone can learn something. It’s tragic. Period. 3. This is not God’s will. Not everything that happens on this earth is exactly how it should have been. And not everything that happens is divinely inspired. Some things are simply wrong through and through. You don’t ever have the right to tell someone their loss was God’s will. Not. Ever. 4. Say something (supportive). You do not need to tiptoe around the loss in order to avoid reminding them about it and making them sad. They have not (nor will they ever) forget. Don’t demand they pour out all their feelings to you — just acknowledge that they have feelings. If you don’t know what to say, a simple, “I’m deeply sad for your family,” will do. 5. Say their child’s name. If the greatest fear of a parent is to lose a child — the second greatest fear is that they will be forgotten. You do not bring distress when you mention a child’s name who has died. You bring a gift. 6. On special dates, remember their baby with them. Holidays, due dates, Mother’s Day/Father’s Day, & birthdays are lonely and can be distressing for a loss family. Put an alert in your phone to send them a simple message that you’re thinking about them. 7. Keep the cliches in check. Platitudes offer quick and easy comfort to the comforter. And distress the bereaved. A quick saying makes light of a loss, and indicates that there is an acceptable reason why their baby died. But there is no reason good enough. Again, keep it to a “I’m so sorry ...” 8. Don’t judge their reaction. Popular opinion says the further along a pregnancy, the more a parent is impacted. But science says the impact of a loss transcends gestation. As in — the way a couple experiences a loss and responds is profoundly unique. And their response is not up for debate. Honor their response. Do not imply they are grieving too much, too little, too short, or too long. 9. Your pain does not invalidate their pain. If you’ve ever been tempted to say (or think), “You think this hurts? Try _________.” Not helpful. You can both be deeply hurting over different things without invalidating the other person. 10. Don’t be the Peeping Tom of grief. There is a difference between grieving as a community and infringing on personal space out of curiosity. Listen to what they want to say? Yes. Expect all the nitty-gritty they are not ready to share? Heck no. If someone’s baby dies, show up. The onus is on us to learn to support the grieving better — not for the bereaved to learn to grieve better. . Get your bonus chapter, “How to Support Your Loved One Through Baby Loss” at www.unexpectingbook.com #PregnancyAndInfantLossAwarenessMonth #WaveOfLight #PAIL #pregnancyloss #miscarriage #stillbirth #tfmr #infantloss #sids #trisomy #fataldiagnoses #prematurity #incompetantcervix #chemicalpregnancy #neonatalloss #ectopicpregnancy #molarpregnancy #babylossawareness #babylossawarenessweek #griefsupport #bereavedmother #bereavedfather #pregnancyandinfantlossawarenessmonth #unexpecting #unexpectingbook
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