What is the impact on parents and families?

Parents who have had a stillborn baby face an increased risk of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and suicidal thoughts.

The community’s fears and stigma around stillbirth intensifies parents’ distress and often makes them feel more isolated in their grief. Research has shown that up to 50% of bereaved parents in Australia and New Zealand feel unable to talk about their stillborn baby because it makes people feel uncomfortable.

Many parents feel the death of their baby is not recognised as the same as the death of an older child and may blame themselves.