Coping With The Loss Of A Stillborn Birth Or SDS Child

The loss of a stillborn child or experiencing a stillbirth is a traumatic and devastating experience. In the coming days, weeks, and months, you could experience an overwhelming sense of shock, numbness, grief, and disbelief. At Gallagher Funeral Home, we understand that you must have the assistance and information to get through this challenging time as you attempt to make sense of what happened.

How The Loss Of A Stillborn Affects You

Even though each person's grief is unique, intense grief is still a normal reaction to your child's death. You and your partner are entitled to grieve in whatever feels most comfortable for you. Any emotions you could be experiencing at this time are acceptable; there is no correct or incorrect way to feel, so keep in mind that your emotions are your own.

You could experience both physical and emotional consequences from grief, and sometimes this can be challenging to deal with. You might go through frequent mood swings and develop a tendency to cry frequently and suddenly. Reliving incidents in your head and speculating about how things could have been different are all normal thoughts and feelings.

In addition, you may experience:

• A feeling of isolation or loneliness and believe that others around you cannot understand what you are going through
• Fear and apprehension about the future
• A feeling of guilt
• Anger
• Fatigue
• Vulnerability and incapability of dealing with anything

You Could Also Feel

• Simple things no longer make sense, and you seem to be "losing your mind."
• You "live in a fog."
• You struggle to focus, remember details, or make decisions, making it challenging to handle simple daily tasks.
• You want to be left alone and shun contact with anyone, including those closest to you.
• There is no joy or hope in the future.

Please know that there are people who care and have resources to help you through this challenging time. Additional steps you can take could help you adjust to your loss of a stillborn include:

• Giving yourself time to grieve
• Finding something constructive to do to help you channel your grief
• Postponing making important decisions
• Being more open to getting some help and support from those who care about you

Treat yourself with the compassion and understanding you would offer to a friend or loved one experiencing grief. As you start to feel better, it's essential to consider all aspects of your health: mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.

For information about how to cope with the loss of a stillborn or about our funeral services, feel free to call Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home, contact us, or give us a call at 318-640-1375 today.