Audio / Video on Infant Loss
(Underlined/highlighted books are available from the A Place To Remember www bookstore.)

"A Child's View of Grief," Alan Wolfelt. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. Actions of adults greatly influence the allowance of children to mourn, and this video points out how to allow children to be our teachers. Helps adults see the need to let children tell how they feel, that they need to be included, and the need for honesty.

"A Look at the First Year After Death of an Infant," 1986. Three 20-minute videocassettes. Perinatal Loss, 2116 N.E. 18th Ave., Portland, OR 97212, (503) 284-7426. Portrays a family's grief at one month, four months, and one year after the death of their son. Deals with the emotional and physical reactions to grief‹what hurts and what helps.

"After Loss: Journey Of The Next Pregnancy." VHS, color, 30 minutes. Produced b WomenCare, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN. Available from A Place to Remember, (800) 631-0973. This video on a subsequent pregnancy after a loss was created for both health care professionals and bereaved parents. Throughout the video, parents tell how they developed coping strategies in their pregnancies and learned ways to better advocate for themselves in the health care system. We were especially pleasantly surprised at the equal role that the video gave to the men and women facing the fears of a subsequent pregnancy.

"Alive Again," 1986. Care Video Productions, 30 minutes, all video formats. Health Science Consortium, 201 Silver Cedar Court, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, (919) 942-8731. A bereaved couple shares their experience of two stillbirths, the first with little or no support, and the second with their developed knowledge of the first. The difference in the grief process becomes very evident.

"At A Loss For Words: How to help those you care for in a miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death experience," VHS 30 min., Paraclete Video Productions. Available from A Place to Remember, (800) 631-0973. A companion to the video "Footprints...." This video offers an in-depth compassionate look at grief after the death of an infant, and examines the feelings of helplessness, guilt, frustration, anger and sadness that often result. It offers family members, friends and early caregivers (such as clergy, doctors, nurses and counselors), ways to help, what to say and do...and what not to say and do.

"Baby and Me: Guided Relaxation Especially for Preterm Labor," 1993. By Sylvia Klein Olkin, 50 minute, audio tape. Relaxation tape meant for woman in preterm labor. Features stress management, inner bonding, and relaxation techniques.

"Care for the Caregivers: Coping with Perinatal Death," Produced by Dr. Irwin Weinfeld. 15 minutes, all video formats. Professional Research, 930 Pitner Ave., Evanston, IL 60202; (800) 421-2363. Designed for health care professionals and others who come in contact with the dying infant and its family. It discusses coping with and understanding stress associated with perinatal death. Highlights the importance of understanding and expressing emotions, and seeking support from friends and co-workers.

"Children Mourning, Mourning Children", video, 59 minutes VHS. Available from Compassion Books, (704) 675-9670. Noted grief experts share insights into how children understand death and how children express grief. Musical interludes by Paul Alexander.

"Death of a Dream: When a Baby Dies," 1981. 20 minutes. Boulder County Hospice, Inc., 218 14th St., Boulder, CO 80302. Recreates birth and death experiences in the hospital with candid conversation among parents which provides information for professionals and friends about helping the parents.

"Death of A Wished-For Child," 1977. OGR Service Corporation, PO Box 3586, Springfield, IL 62708. (With booklet "Understanding the Death of the Wished-For Child.")

Death, Grief, and Mourning, Alan Wolfelt, 1991. Series of six audio cassette tapes of 60 minutes each. Accelerated Development Inc., 3808 W. Kilgore Ave., Muncie, IN 47304-4896, (317) 284-7511. Major topics covered include: Common Myths about Grief, Assisting the Bereaved, Men's Grief, Reconciliation Needs of Mourning, and Unique Factors Influencing Grief Response, among others.

"Empty Arms: A Tribute to Jacob", video (54 min), Jack M. Stack, MD and Kim Barnas, BS. Family Health Institute, 503 N. State St., Alma, MI 48801, (517) 463-2779. This interview between the mother of stillborn baby Jacob and her family physician has been used for teaching students, physicians, nurses and other caregivers about the empathic management of this family tragedy and also about the care of the professional caregivers.

"Empty Arms: The Caregiver's Role," 1988. A video of Sherokee llse's 6- hour inservice, filmed at Vanderbilt University. Wintergreen Press, 3630 Eileen St., Maple Plain, MN 55359. (612) 476-1303.

"Empty Arms: Reaching Out To You," 1986. 28 minutes on videocassette. Wintergreen Press, 3630 Eileen St., Maple Plain, MN 55359. (612) 476-1303. Video for parents to help with decisions at time of loss, and preparation for returning home. Hospital-clinic educational.

"Footprints On Our Hearts: How to cope after a miscarriage stillbirth or newborn death", VHS 60 min., Paraclete Video Productions. Available from A Place to Remember, (800) 631-0973. A compassionate look at this traumatic event in men's and women's lives, and offers in-depth help for this grief-filled time. Those who have been there share their feelings and reactions to the death of their baby, the importance of remembering, how men and women handle grief differently, and how they can be assisted in the grieving process.

"Labor & Birth: rebuilding trust", Abbott Northwestern Hospital, 18 min., VHS. For families who have experienced a loss and are now nearing the birth of their subsequent child. Some of the concerns addressed are ways for families to cope with their anxieties as the birth approaches, ideas for writing an individualized birth plan, and issues involved when there is loss as within a multi-fetal pregnancy.

"Life and Death Before Birth‹Evaluation of the Stillborn," Video series. Wisconsin Stillbirth Service Program, U.W. Clinical Genetics Center, Waisman Center, Room 333, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison WI 53705-2280, (608) 262-9722 or (608) 262-2507. A most remarkable video series for the clinician. Five full segments: parental needs following intrauterine death; Introduction, justification and overview of assessment of the stillborn; Practical guide to fetal evaluation; Results and outcomes of assessment of stillborn infants; and case studies of fetal causes of intrauterine death.

"Memories," SHARE, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, 211 S. 3rd St., Belleville, lL 62222, (618) 234-2415. A videocassette directed to professionals on how to be helpful after a miscarriage, stillbirth or a newborn death.

"Miscarriage‹A Neglected Area For Ministry," Frank Moyer and Debbie Saban, 1980. Care Cassettes. Audio cassette.

"One Day," audio, music written by Susan Kaminski and Mark and Diana Blum after the stillbirth of Susan's daughter. The song is recorded by Diana Blum on the "Messenger" album, and is the winner of the 1997 Gospel Music Associations Northwest Regional Song Competition. Available from Diana Blum, 10130 Hughey Lane, Tillamook, OR 97141.

Paul Alexander. A selection of music cassettes, CDs and sheet music from well-known singer/songwriter, Paul Alexander, whose acclaimed concert and workshop presentations have been featured at national and regional conferences of The World Gathering, Share, The Compassionate Friends, ADEC and others. Blending his music with a wisdom and knowledge of grief, Paul offers a powerful performance that teaches and inspires his listeners.

"Significance: The Death of The Longed For Child," Doug Manning, 1992. In-Sight Books, Inc., PO Box 42467, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, (405) 810-9501. Cassette tape.

"Some Babies Die," 54 minutes on various formats. University of California Extension Media Center, 2176 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704, (415) 642-0460. Powerful Australian documentary shows how a professional counseling team (pediatrician, nurse, psychologist) help bereaved families cope with depression and guilt after stillbirth and neonatal death.

"Special Beginnings," 30 minutes VHS. Centering Corporation, Omaha, NE. Available from A Place to Remember, (800) 631-0973. Centering spent a day in the NICU, asking parents what they would like to tell about the roller coaster emotions. They also talked to nurses and doctors to get their perspective on the care they will give to each NICU baby. It includes a good general overview of care that the staff will provide, plus it gives hope, encouragement, and validates the emotions that NICU parents will experience. Also gives some positive things parents can do to better survive this stressful experience.

"Support for Prenatal Decisions," video Produced by Support for Prenatal Decisions, PO Box 8411, Redlands, CA 92375. Developed as a teaching aid for professional and paraprofessionals working in the field of genetics and prenatal diagnosis, this film presents a panel of parents who have experienced prenatal diagnosis and chose to interrupt their pregnancy.

"The Anguish of Loss," slide show. Julie Fritsch sculptures set to music, 1988. Wintergreen Press, 3630 Eileen St., Maple Plain, MN 55359, (612) 476-1303. For professionals who work with bereaved families to sensitize and teach them in a powerful way about the grief, drama and emotion behind the loss of a child.

"The Doctor Talks to You About Miscarriage," with Dr. Harold Schulman. Audio tape, 58 minutes. Publisher unknown. The doctor defines miscarriage, discusses possible causes and provides advice on how miscarriages may be prevented in subsequent pregnancies.

"Touch the Snow," VHS tape, 13 minutes. Editech Post Productions, Omaha NE. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. Covers the history of a loss (related to the book "Where's Jess") and guiding the surviving sibling, Heather, through grief. Covers a nice perspective on these parents 14 years later.

"Unsung Lullabies: Coping with Miscarriage," VHS tape, 47 minutes. Injoy Videos, 3970 Broadway, Suite B4, Boulder CO 80304, (800) 326-2082. Considering that approximately 1 in 5 pregnancies end in miscarriage, it is surprising that most couples are surprised by the grief they experience. This video shares the stories of eight women and men.

"We Will Remember," James Miller, 1992. VHS tape, 10 minutes. Willowgreen Productions, Fort Wayne, IN. Available from Compassion Books, (704) 675-9670. A gentle video that invites bereaved people to pause and remember. Helpful for rituals and commemorative services, blends images from nature with serene music. There is also a companion book available: Helping the Bereaved Celebrate the Holidays.

"What Bereaved Children Want Adults To Know About Grief," Alan Wolfelt, 1995. Audiotape, 25 minutes, plus booklet. Accelerated Development, 1900 Frost Road, Suite 101, Bristol PA 19007-1598, (800) 821-8312. Booklet/audiocassette package redone in 1995. Offers 15 principles about grief as it relates to children, and then describes them in the language a grieving child might actually use.

"When Your Baby Dies," Boulder County Hospice, Inc., 2118 14th St., Boulder, CO 80302. Answers questions which arise after the death of an infant, including seeing and holding the baby, final arrangements, you feelings and the hospital staff's feelings.

"Who Cares for the Caregiver?", video from Family Health Institute, 503 N. State St., Alma, MI 48801, (517) 463-2779. This lecture by Jack M. Stack, MD, and discussion of the pain experienced by a wide range of caregivers includes dysfunctional behaviors and methods of dealing with losses.