Families grieve when they lose a child, when they lose a mother or father and when a friend dies. It is perhaps surprising then, that many people feel parents should not grieve a miscarriage or a stillborn even though a family member has died.

Parents will go through their own individual grieving process. Much of which will not be shared with friends and family and sometimes the mother and father will even hide their grief from each other. One way of working through the grief is to find a support group of parents who have gone through similar experiences. The biggest benefit of attending a support group is knowing that you are not alone in your feelings. Knowing that your partner is also grieving will also help you understand how they are dealing with this very difficult time in their life. Your GP will be able to give you the location of a support group in your area.

One of the biggest decisions a couple has to make after a miscarriage, a stillborn or death infant is if or when to have another baby. Some parents want to try for a baby as soon as possible while others are reluctant to try again. When deciding whether you are ready for another baby, it is important to consider:

• both parent's emotional state of mind
  
• how you are both coping with your child's death
  
• recommendations from your doctor on the mother's physical health

Make sure that you give yourself enough time to grieve the loss of your baby. The most important thing to do is to talk and express your feelings. You can do this in a support group, with friends and family and particularly with your partner.