Knowing that your baby has died before birth will not necessarily prepare you for the silence that follows once they are born. The silence can be “loud” and this can be very distressing.
Once your baby is born and your condition is stable, you can begin to think about the choices you want to make. For example, you can think about whether you want to see and hold your baby and to have photographs taken. You may also want to create other memories such as hand and foot prints, or save a lock of your baby’s hair. You might have already started thinking about these decisions in the time before you gave birth.
If you are in a state of shock, or are feeling drowsy because of your medication, do not feel rushed into making decisions or feel that you cannot change your mind. Your baby will be cared for until you feel ready to make decisions. Later on, you might also have questions and want to understand more about what happened during labour. You may also find it helpful to go through the medical notes with the doctor or midwife.