There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and no right or wrong time period to work through your grief and loss.
Feelings, emotions and thoughts of fear, denial, anger, hurt, acceptance, loneliness and hope, to name a few, are felt and experienced by parents in our community both mentally and physically.
In her book, Heart Space, Ami Summers states our collective understanding of grief has evolved from the linear approach of Kubler-Ross’s model where it was expected that we all travelled a very similar route and trajectory while grieving.
“We now understand that the journey of grief is much more complex and personalised, due to the varying influences of that experience, and each person’s emotional fingerprint.”
Each day will be different and bring new challenges, emotions and triggers. Allow yourself time to grieve and heal, both as a couple and individually.
To help support you during this time, reach out to loved ones, medical practitioners, social workers and counsellors, spiritual and natural healing providers and leverage resources and tools to guide you through this time.
It may feel like it, but you are not alone. There is a compassionate community waiting with open arms to help and support you.
Our community has shared that although heart-breaking, reading other families stories has helped them immensely through their own grief, resonating with mothers and fathers stillborn baby stories and journeys, and finding a safe space and community to engage, learn more and grow. Read more of our community’s stories and join our community on Instagram and Facebook .
Grieving and healing
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Ann-Maree Imrie, mother to Xavier Rocket Imree
Stillbirth Foundation Australia ambassador Ann-Maree Imrie has created a voice for her son, Xavier, through her website My Baby’s Voice. Read her article, Grieving and Healing here.
“"When you are in the thick fog of grief, life becomes a series of events similar to that of the grocery store visit. Your world that once felt safe, becomes a place of anxiety, fear and sadness. But something keeps you going. A ‘driving force’ that lets you put one foot in front of the other."”
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Dave McCarthy, father to Arla Summers McCarthy
Dave and his wife Ami lost their daughter Arla to stillbirth in 2013. Ami has since created Heart Space – a 258 page self-directed, therapeutically reviewed coaching book designed to help families through all stages of loss.
Read Dave’s full story here.
“As one of our counsellors said to us early on: “Grief is like work, if you don’t face up to it today, it’ll still be waiting for you tomorrow.” ”
