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Illness and Death in Infants

By

Steven D. Blatt

, MD, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University

Reviewed/Revised Dec 2023
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION

The medical needs of premature newborns Preterm (Premature) Newborns A preterm newborn is a baby delivered before 37 weeks of gestation. Depending on when they are born, preterm newborns may have underdeveloped organs that are not be ready to function outside... read more or of infants who are ill often require that they be separated from their parents temporarily, and the opportunity for parents to interact with their infant is often sharply limited by their medical needs. In addition, parents are usually emotionally distressed by their infant's condition. It is easy for parents to feel helpless at a time when they are needed most. Separation and parental distress can reinforce feelings of inadequacy or guilt, particularly in severely ill infants who are hospitalized for a long time. (See also Death and Dying in Children Death and Dying in Children Many families have to deal with the tragic challenges surrounding a child who is ill and dying. Adults often have a difficult time dealing with death, even when an adult dies, and children may... read more and see Introduction to Death and Dying Introduction to Death and Dying Death is an intrinsic part of life, and talking about the likely outcomes of illness, including death and dying, is an important part of health care. Doctors and patients vary in the language... read more .)

Illness in Infants

Parents should see, hold, and interact with their infant as soon as possible and as much as possible. Even with severely ill infants, parents often can help feed, bathe, and change their infant. Skin-to-skin contact between parents and infants is encouraged, because infants who experience skin-to-skin contact typically gain weight faster than those who do not. Breastfeeding may be possible, even if the infant must be fed through a tube at first. Many neonatal nurseries help families store and use breast milk for their child. Many hospitals encourage parents to stay at their infant's bedside around the clock and even participate in family-oriented hospital rounds where they can interact with doctors, nurses, and other staff and discuss treatment plans.

If an infant has a birth defect Overview of Birth Defects Birth defects, also called congenital anomalies, are physical abnormalities that occur before a baby is born. They are usually obvious within the first year of life. The cause of many birth... read more , parents may feel guilt, sadness, anger, or other emotions. Many feel even more guilt because they have such feelings. Seeing and touching the child can help the parents look beyond the birth defect and see the infant as a whole person. Information about the condition, possible treatments, and the infant's prognosis can help the parents adjust psychologically and plan for the best medical care. Counseling sessions may help some parents.

Infant Loss (Death of an Infant)

Loss of an infant is always emotionally traumatic for parents. However, if a newborn dies before being seen or touched by the parents, the parents may feel as though they never had a baby. Although painful, holding or seeing the baby after death can help parents begin to grieve and begin the process of closure. Parents of a stillborn infant sometimes find comfort in dressing the infant or wrapping the infant in a baby blanket and taking photographs, footprints, or other keepsakes they can save to remember their child. This practice humanizes the infant and reinforces that the infant was a real part of their family.

Did You Know...

  • Seeing and touching an infant who has died often helps parents begin to grieve.

Emptiness, lost hopes and dreams, and fear may overwhelm parents, who may become depressed. Parents tend to feel guilty, blaming themselves even when they are not responsible for the death. The grief and guilt that follow may strain the relationship between parents. The grieving process may also mean that parents are unable to attend to the needs of other family members, including other children.

Many families whose infants are severely ill or who have died can benefit from counseling from psychological or religious personnel. Parent and family support groups also may help.

More Information

The following English-language resources may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of these resources.

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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