Parenting after perinatal bereavement - a review of the literature

Abstract

The literature concerning the psychosocial aspects of parenting after the death of a child in the perinatal period is reviewed. The impact of bereavement on the parents and the siblings is discussed with effects on the mental health of the family, the decision to embark on further pregnancies and the implications for child-rearing practice. The concept of the ‘replacement child’ is explored with suggestions as to how psychopathological mechanisms may be avoided.