What can a Nurse do to help assist a mother with the greiving process after a stillbirth?

Tell her you are sorry about the loss of her baby.
Put a card on her door to denote to staff that her baby died so she is not approached as a happy new mother.
Do not place her near the hospital nursery or with maternity patients because the sounds of other new babies crying and the sight of happy pregnant women can be searingly painful.
Remove her name from the list of women to receive baby products.
Encourage questions and answer any questions she has with simple, clear information, and use a gentle tone of voice.
Offer to bring in a clergy person or social worker.
Explain and help them through hospital procedures for obtaining their baby's remains.
Tell them where their baby's remains will go if they choose not to retrieve them.
Give them info verbally and in written form about support groups and about grief.
Suggest the option of a funeral or memorial service.
Offer the parents the option to view and hold the baby.
Treat the baby with dignity--bring the baby to her in a baby basket or cradle, with a blanket, or cradled in your arms.
Ask her if she wants to be alone with her baby. Give her the time she needs.
Ask if there is anyone else she would want to see and hold the baby.
Provide her with a memory packet containing a photo, measurements, lock of hair, hand and foot prints, keepsake birth and death certificates.
Let her fully feel and overtly vent her grief.
Inquire about her emotional well-being and encourage her to talk about her feelings to you, a friend, loved one, or support group.

Attend a training seminar on communicating with the bereaved.

nothing really but offer support emotionally

Make a keepsake with the baby's foot and hand prints on it, so she has something to take home with her. And just be there if she needs to talk or a shoulder to cry on.

Hug her and allow her to grieve. Each person grieves differently. Some need to talk, some need to be left alone. There is no good answer to this question. Just be loving, caring and trust your instincts.

Get some counseling organized.

There isn't much anyone can do, except to be a supportive shoulder to cry on.

i HAD A BABY BORN WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND WENT THRU A GREIVING PROCESS.

REMEMBER, BE VERY GENTLE, AND VERY CALM. DON'T PREACH, BUT IF YOU ARE ASKED FOR ADVICE OR QUESTIONS, ANSWER USING YOUR KNOWLEGE.

REMEMBER SPONTANEOUS ABORTION SOMETIMES OCCURS WHEN THEIR WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE CHILD. IT IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO TRY
AGAIN. THIS BABY WAS NOT MEANT TO BE BORN.

I CANNOT THINK OF ANYTHING SO HEARTWRENCHING AS THIS AND THE SHOCK AND EMPTINES, THE STAGES OF DENIAL, ANGER, ACCEPTANCE.

YOU ARE A STRONG WOMAN TO NURSE A WOMAN IN THIS TYPE OF GRIEVING PROCESS. GOOD LUCK TO YOU IN YOUR ENDEAVOR.

i am very sorry if you are talking about yourself having a stillborn baby. that's awful.
the only thing a nurse could really do is be there for you as a friend and as professional, they can help with the whole grieving process and be there to make sure you have everything you need. so sorry to hear about that

NOTHING I know. When I had mine there was NOTHING ANYONE could say or do to help me get through that grief. That is one process that just takes time to get over yourself although I KNOW in my case it may be over yet it will NEVER be forgotten.

Well you got to take your cues from the mother. Some women just want to be left alone. Having a nurse flutter over them will just make it worse. Others would want someone to talk to. Some would just want someone to give them a hug. It varies woman to woman.

Don't say stuff like it happened for a reason or give them stats about miscarriages, stillbirths, and such. They don't care. Plus it sounds really cold.

Be around if they want to talk or if they need someone. Otherwise just go off their cues. They will generally turn to their family for comfort. But just make sure you don't become to overbearing.

Just help her in carrying out process and afterwards helping in movements.

stay close by, quietly offer words of comfort, and most importantly, offer to let her see her child. many hospitals dont even offer, they just whisk the child away figuring its kinder that way. i believe its much kinder to give the mother a face to look at, and remember. its an important part of dealing with it. its very hard to mourn a child youve never seen. if you believe in god, it might be nice if you offered to pray with her, or ask if shed like the hospital chaplain to come and say a few words. one more thing i think i would really like if this ever happened to me... do the foot print for her, so she has something tangible left of her child. aww. youve got me all sniffly. dear lord please watch over the mothers and children in these situations.

i lost my first daughter when she was a week old, and everyone at the hospital was very kind to me. they gave me a clay impression of her foot that i treasure dearly, you should see if your hospital offers something like that. a lock of hair as well. there's really not much you can do to ease her pain, just offer her a shoulder to cry on, and let her know that if there's anything she may need from you to not hesitate to let you know. remember to send flowers to the funeral. on another note, make sure when talking to her you don't talk about religious matters. i became very upset when someone told me that "god needed her more than i did". you should also give her information about support groups for infant death, it will help her to know that she's not alone.