American Journal of Nursing [Nov., 1981. 2050-53] "Pregnancy after reproductive failure," Cathy Cornwell Floyd. A thoughtful article to help nurses recognize the problems associated with a subsequent pregnancy. Points out four anxiety responses that may be common in obstetric setting: somatization; acting out; introspection; and investigation. Well-written and informative.
American Journal of Nursing [Feb., 1986. 157-158], "Death before birth," Connie M. Whitaker.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology [May 1, 1984. 149, (1), 46-51] "Psychological effects and management of perinatal loss," E.P, Kirk.
The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry [Oct., 1991. 61: 510-22]. "Acute versus chronic grief: the case of pregnancy loss," Judith N. Lasker and Lori J. Toedter. "The most difficult challenge is to identify the high-risk individuals, regardless of the type of loss, for they are not necessarily the ones who are crying the most, but rather, may be withdrawn and quietly despairing."
The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry [Jan., 1992. 62: 7-8]. "Perinatal loss: choreographing grief on the obstetric unit," I.G. Leon. While praising the total change from the denial in the hospital 20 years ago, the author questions why "the responsiveness of caregivers to perinatal grief is increasingly being transformed into a carefully managed stage production. The facilitation of grief is becoming the institutionalization of bereavement." Asks for a change of emphasis.
The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry [Apr., 1993. v. 63, p. 215-22]. "Reactions to perinatal loss: a qualitative analysis of the National Maternal and Infant Health Survey," Sharon S. Covington and Susan K. Theut. An analysis of 413 respondents identifying six major themes including the need for further information, problems in the mourning process and concerns about subsequent pregnancies.
American Journal of Psychiatry [Aug, 1986. 143: 987-92], "Management of established pathological grief reaction after stillbirth," J.T. Condon.
American Journal of Psychiatry [May, 1989. 146: 635-639]. "Perinatal loss and parental bereavement," Susan K. Theut, et.al. The six authors developed a "Perinatal Bereavement Scale for Mothers" to gauge the amount of unresolved grief during postnatal and subsequent pregnancies. The scale and the resulting study are printed here.
American Journal of Psychiatry [1992. 149: 1464-1472]. "Psychoanalytic conceptualization of perinatal loss: A multidimensional model," I.G. Leon.
Bereavement Magazine [Feb., 1988], "A little box of memories," Joe and Cindy Koltz.
Canadian Medical Association Journal [l983. l29 (4): 335-39], "Support for parents experiencing perinatal loss." G.W. Chance, et al.
Contemporary OB/GYN [Apr., 1985. 25 (4), 106-115], "Helping patients cope with pregnancy loss," J.J. LaFerla and R.S.
Good. Death Studies [1992, 16, 401-415], "Parentsı perceptions of the miscarriage Experience," Marianne Hopkins Hutti.
Discover [Apr., 1992. 13:87]. "Medical Research on SIDS," Lori Oliwenstein. A short article which explores the latest theories on SIDS causes.
Family Relations [Apr., 1992. 41:218-223]. "Parentsı grief following pregnancy loss: a comparison of mothers and fathers," Kandl M. Stinson, Judith N. Lasker, Janet Lohmann, and Lori J. Toedter. 56 couples were studied to gauge grief at 2 months, 1, and 2 years post-loss. Although women score higher on most subscales than men, in the most serious subscale, "Despair," men do not differ significantly. Underlying significance is that men may not be coping as well as indicated in other studies.
Glamour [Apr., 1986. 84: 214ff], "My infant's death," S. Laroe.
Glamour [May, 1989. 87:284]. "My imaginary child," W. P. Hogue.
Glamour [Jan., 1990. 88:156]. "Pregnancy, miscarriage and hope," D. Cole.
Glamour [Jul., 1992. 90:38+]. "Miscarriage," L.M. Kase.
Good Housekeeping [Jan., 1993, v. 216, p. 152]. "What every expectant mother can do to prevent stillbirth," M.A. Plumbo.
Growing Parents [Feb., 1987], "What to say and what to do when someone loses a baby," Linda C. Anderson.
International Journal of Family Psychiatry [1986. 7 (4): 41937], "The hidden family grief: An overview of grief in the family following perinatal death," E. Kirkley-Best and C. VanDevere.
International Journal of Psychiatry and Medicine [1985. 15: 243-64],"The subsequent pregnancy after stillbirth: Anticipatory parenthood in the face of uncertainty," S. Phipps.
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry [1989. 28 (3): 48l-87], "Postponing pregnancy after perinatal death: Perspectives on doctorsı advice," D.L. Davis, M. Stewart and R.J. Harmon.
Journal of the American Medical Association [Feb. 10, 1984. 251 (6), 732-733], "I had a baby sister but she only lasted one day," S.C.M. Scrimshaw and D.M.S. March.
Journal of Family Issues [1986. 7 (3): 237-53], "Long-term effects of perinatal loss," P.G. Rosenblatt and L.H. Burns.
Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing [l985. 14:l30-39], "Grief and perinatal loss: A community approach to support," D. Carr and S.F. Knupp.
Journal of Religion and Health [1992. 31: 19-30] "Religions as a Resource for Bereaved Parents," K.R. Gilbert
Ladies Home Journal [Nov., 1985.102, 74ff], "How to cope with heartbreak," R.L. Venings.
Marriage and Family Living [Feb., 1986. 15-17], "Miscarriage: Remnants of a life," M. Davis.
Marriage and Family Review [1988, 12, no.3-4: 221-65]. "Disappointment: when things go wrong in the transition to parenthood," R.D. Parke and A. Beitel.
McCalls [Feb., 1984. 40-43], "You'll be your old self again soon," S. Jacoby.
Mothering [1989. (51):2935], "Guiding children through grief," J. Johnson.
Mothering [1986. (39):26-29], "When things go wrong: What to do if your newborn dies." J. Johnson.
Newsweek [Apr. 1984], "Pregnancies that can kill," M. Clark, T. Namuth, and D. Witherspoon.
Newsweek [March 24, 1986. 66-67], "Learning from the Loss," Adler, Jerry, et al.
Newsweek [Aug.15, l988. 46-52], "Miscarriages," M. Beck, et al.
Nursing [May, 1985. 63], "Helping the parents of a stillborn," L. Whited.
Nursing [May, 1988], "Sorrow has many faces: Helping families cope with grief," Daren N. Archer, MSN and Anne Clarke Smith, MS.
Obstetrics and Gynecology [1983. 61 (4): 497-500], "Grief in the perinatal period," R.M. Furlong and J.C. Hobbins.
Obstetrics and Gynecology [1984. 63 (6)], "Parental Behavior After Perinatal Death: Lack of Predictive Demographic and Obstetric Variables," Kenneth Kellner, M.D., et al.
Omega, Journal of Death and Dying [1988/89. 19: 1, 51-67], "Parents Coping and Communication Following Their Infantıs Death," Nancy N. Freeley and Laurie N. Gottlieb.
Omega, Journal of Death and Dying [1990/91. v. 22, no. 2: 81-108]. "The psychological effects of a stillbirth on surviving family members," John DeFrain, Leona Martens, Jan Stork and Warren Stork. The article suggests several challenges and themes common to many bereaved families, including shock, blame, guilt and hardship; the desperate need to remember; the necessity for adequate support systems; and issues surrounding subsequent pregnancies.
Omega, Journal of Death and Dying [1991. v. 23, no. 1: 13-23]. "Explaining pregnancy loss: parents' and physicians attributions," Dana S. Dunn, Kristen R. Clinton Goldbach, Judith Lasker, and Lori J. Toedter. A study of 194 parents (138 female) as to what they believed the cause of their pregnancy loss was. A study that proves the value of a physician thoroughly explaining the loss as best that can be made. The study finds self-blame a significant problem, even when a cause is known.
Omega, Journal of Death and Dying [1991/92. v. 24, no. 3: 165-82]. "The psychological effects of sudden infant death on grandmothers and grandfathers," John D. DeFrain, Deanne K. Jakub, and Betty Lou Mendoza. For most grandparents SIDS is a devastating experience: in fact 4% of grandparents considered suicide. These findings suggest that almost every aspect of their lives is affect.
Omega, Journal of Death and Dying [1994. v. 29, no. 1: 47-69]. "Parental bereavement over the lifecourse: A theoretical intersection and empirical review," B. DeVries, R. Dalla Lana, and V.T. Falck.
Parents Magazine [Feb., 1985. 80-82], "When a child dies," J. Gaylin.
Parents Magazine [Apr., 1987. 132ff], "Miscarriage: The baby who wasn't," Perry-Lynn Moffitt. A good overview on the personal experiences of the author through two miscarriages. Talks about the thoughtlessness of others and her discover of the benefits of a support network.
Parents Magazine [Apr., 1987. 134-135], "No heartbeat," Melissa Atkinson. Her personal story of the stillbirth of her daughter and a nice sidebar on "How to say Iım Sorry,ı...without making the pain worse."
Parents Magazine [July, 1987. p. 142], "Stillbirth," Paula Adams Hillard. A doctor relates her story of the fetal death of James and her interaction with his parents, April and Mark, throughout the ordeal. Emphasizes the need for follow-up visits in spaced intervals.
Parents Magazine [Aug., 1988. p. 114+], "After a baby dies," Michael Forman and Judi Lowenburg-Forman. The loss of a child can leave parents emotionally shattered. The authors explain how they found the strength to go on with their lives and have another child after the death of their son. "We needed to understand why Robin died, what his death meant concretely and spiritually..."
Pediatric Nursing [1997. 23:1], "The Value of a Family-Centered Approach in the NICU and PICU: One Familyıs Perspective," Melanie Morrison Sweeney. One familyıs story of a high-risk pregnancy, long hospitalizations, and ultimately the deaths of both daughters illustrates the kind of support system that families need. Positive examples show the value of a family-centered approach.
Pediatrics [1978. 62:2], "Grief response of parents to neonatal death and parent participation in deciding care," D.G. Benfield and J.H. Vollman.
Psychiatric Annals [1984. 14(6), 454-457], "Psychological repercussions of pregnancy loss," E. Hertz.
Psychoanalytic Study of the Child [1961. 16:9-27], "A study of the psychological processes in pregnancy and of the earliest mother/ child relationship: some propositions and comments," G. Bibring, et al.
Psychology Today [July, 1987. 21: 64-65]. "It Might Have Been: Mourning the Unborn," Diane Cole.
Readers Digest [Apr., 1984. 124, 25ff]. "When a baby dies," J. S. Raminsky.
Redbook [Dec., 1985. 47-48], "I love my beautiful babies, but I can't forget the ones I lost," J. Lederhaus.
Social Science and Medicine [1983, v. 17, no. 11, p. 755-761]. "Some questions of identity: late miscarriages, stillbirth, and perinatal loss," Alice Lovell.
Social Science and Medicine [May, 1994. v. 38, no. 9, p. 1193-200]. "The effects of pregnancy loss on women's health," P.G. Ney, et. al.
Social Science and Medicine [May, 1994. v. 38, no. 10, p. 1415-22]. "I wouldn't have minded a wee one running about: miscarriage and the family," R. Cecil.
USA Today [Oct. 1991. 120:15]. "Dangerous Pregnancies." A discussion of ectopic pregnancy due to STDs.
U.S. Catholic [Feb., 1991. 56:26-8]. "Meghan and Molly deserved a birth announcement," V.G. Ryan. A discussion of the non-observance of stillbirth. Wall Street Journal [November 12, 1990], "Scientists Discover Test that Predicts Miscarriage Risk,"Richard L. Hudson.
Woman's Day [Oct., 1985. 67-70], "The lonely grief of miscarriage," B. Kanner-Cuming.
Woman's Day [Oct. 27, 1988], "The short, sweet life of Nicholas," Linda Moffatt.
Women's Health [1994, v.21, No. 2-3, p. 85-104]. "The variety of emotional reactions to miscarriage," M.E. Madden.
Women's Health [1990, v. 16, no. 3-4, p. 69-98]. "Motherhood lost: cultural dimensions of miscarriage and stillbirth in America," L.L. Layne.
Working Mother [Oct., 1988], "Going to term," Sarah Wernick. Zero to Three, June/July, 1995, 15:6. Special issue devoted to premature infants and the NICU. A professional bulletin put out by the National Center for Clinical Infant Programs. By subscription, which can be obtained by contacting 2000 14th Street North, Suite 380, Arlington, VA 22201-2500, (703) 528-4300.