The midwife or nurse caring for you will usually offer to take photos of your baby. You can also take your own photos. If you are not sure, the midwife or nurse might ask if they can take some to keep with the mother’s hospital notes, which you will be able to access at a later time. You could also have photos taken and ask that these are put in a sealed envelope for you to take home to open if and when you feel ready.
Although it may feel uncomfortable, you may like to take photographs of just your baby or of all of you as a family. Some parents like to have photographs of their baby’s hands or feet. If your baby was a twin or a multiple and their siblings are alive, you might like to take pictures of them together. It is important that what you choose to do feels right for you and any siblings. We have included some ideas of photos you might like to take.
These photo suggestions where made by Esther, a bereaved mum, who felt that at the time her baby died, she couldn’t think about the kind of photos to take, how to take them or who to ask, because everything was such a blur. These are examples of the photos she wishes she had taken.