Maternidade e luto: a memória de um filho não se enterra | Dani Bittar | TEDxBeloHorizonte

Perinatal Loss and Its Impact

• Over 2 million babies are stillborn each year, and up to 25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage in the first 12 weeks.
• The death of a child can have a devastating impact on parents, leading to feelings of isolation, depression, and even divorce.
• Hospitals and clinics often provide little or no support to families who have lost a child.

Need for Improved Bereavement Care

• There is a need for more effective bereavement care in hospitals and maternity wards, including:
  • Training for staff
  • Implementation of safe and compassionate protocols
  • Ensuring that families are kept together and supported during the decision-making process and after the death of the baby

Societal Support and Empathy

• Society needs to understand that losing a child is a significant and painful experience that deserves empathy and support.
• Parents who have lost a child should be treated with respect and their grief should be acknowledged, regardless of the amount of time that has passed.
• Talking about the loss and expressing emotions can help in the grieving process.

Comfort and Remembrance

• Hospitals should implement practices to show empathy and provide comfort to grieving mothers, such as placing a rose on the door of the room instead of a death notice.
• A photograph of a deceased child can be a source of comfort for the parents, even though it may be difficult to look at initially.
• The "Coxa" group in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, provides support to grieving parents by creating memory collages and preserving mementos of the deceased child.

Conclusion

• Grief for a lost child is unique and personal, and there is no set duration for the mourning period.
• The video concludes by highlighting the enduring love for a lost child and the importance of acknowledging and supporting grieving parents.