Neonatal death information and support
What does neonatal death mean?
If a baby dies within the first 28 days after they’re born, it is known as a neonatal death.
If a baby dies after 24 weeks of pregnancy, but before they’re born, it is known as a stillbirth. We have support and advice about stillbirth here.
Why do babies die?
After the loss of a baby, it is natural to want answers about why it happened.
Sometimes the answer is clear, and other times a doctor or coroner will need to run tests or do a post-mortem to find out what happened and why. Sometimes they may not be able to find out why.
Common causes of neonatal death
Most neonatal deaths are linked to premature birth, because when babies are born too soon or too small they are more at risk of infection and other serious health problems. However, there are reasons why a baby may not survive, even if they were born at full-term, including:
- genetic disorders
- complications during or after birth
- infections.
Support after your baby dies
The loss of a baby is devastating. We’re here to offer emotional and practical support to parents and families who are going through this experience.
Emotional support for parents after neonatal loss
If you want to talk to a professional about how you’re feeling, our team of expert midwives are available via the Tommy’s advice line on 0800 0147 800, 9am-5pm. If you’re not ready to talk, we have some information that might help:
- Coping with grief after your baby dies
- Spending time with your baby
- Supporting your partner after your baby dies
Emotional support for others after a baby dies
Family, friends and colleagues of those who lost a baby can find it difficult to know what to say or how to help, while also coping with their own grief. Here’s some advice that could help:
- How to support a friend or family member after their baby dies
- Support for grandparents if your grandchild dies
- Supporting other children after their sibling dies
Practical support for parents who have lost a baby
As well as managing your emotions in the early days and weeks after loss, you will have decisions and arrangements to make. It is an overwhelming time, but hopefully this practical advice will help guide you through it:
- Planning a funeral or ceremony for your baby
- Your body after neonatal loss, including how you will recover after birth, when your milk will come in and what’s happening to your hormones
- Your rights after your baby dies
- Having a post-mortem for your baby
- Registering your baby's birth and death
Pregnancy ads
At Tommy's we often hear from women and men who are bombarded with ads promoting maternity and baby products after loss, which can be really distressing. We've put together some information about how to stop pregnancy ads.
Peer support
A very supportive community has built up over the last few years around pregnancy loss. There are several online communities supporting those who have gone through baby loss or preterm birth. All write movingly about their experiences of loss, life after loss and, in some cases, pregnancy and pregnancy/parenting after loss.
"When my son was stillborn, I couldn’t find anything to read about the mum’s personal experiences and what to expect... I needed something real, something I could relate to." Hannah Pontillo
Pregnancy and parenting after neonatal loss
Pregnancy following the loss of a baby is likely to be an anxious time for both parents. You should have additional support from your healthcare team. Find out what to expect and how to take extra care of yourself:
About Tommy’s
There is still a lack of research into the causes of pregnancy complications and loss, and that is why Tommy’s funds research into the causes of neonatal death, stillbirth, miscarriage and premature birth.
- UNICEF (2017). ‘Child Mortality Estimates – Global and regional child deaths by cause’. Download from https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-survival/neonatal-mortality/. – referencing the UK data
- NHS Choices [accessed 04/10/2018] Neonatal mortality and stillbirths, https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/national-indicator-library/neonatal-mortality-and-stillbirths#definition
Read more about neonatal death
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Support for siblings after the death of a baby
Supporting children through their grief and sadness is important. Here is some information and advice on talking to children after a neonatal death. -
Pregnancy after neonatal loss
Losing a baby can make future pregnancies especially anxious and uncertain. We have advice to help you cope during pregnancy after loss. -
Coping with grief after neonatal loss
Information and support for parents whose baby died after birth, including how to cope day-to-day and how you might be feeling in yourself and towards others. -
Supporting each other as a couple after a neonatal loss
We all grieve differently. Here are some ways to help, support and understand your partner after your baby dies neonatally. -
Registering a neonatal death and/or birth
You, or those who are supporting you, might find this information about the steps that need to be taken to register the death and birth of your baby useful. -
Family, friends and colleagues – how to give support after a baby dies
Find out how you can support parents whose baby has died after birth, including what to say and how you can help practically. -
Trying for another baby after neonatal loss
Information and advice for parents about trying to get pregnant again after your baby died, and how you might feel during pregnancy. -
Rights and benefits after a neonatal death
Find out your maternity rights and what benefits you’re entitled to if your baby dies within 28 days of the birth. Here is some information and support. -
Going back to work after a neonatal death
Going back to work after you’ve lost a baby can be a helpful return to routine or something to dread. Take time to work out what’s best for you. -
Your body after neonatal loss
Information, support and advice for mums about how they might be feeling physically after the birth and loss of their baby. -
Spending time with your baby after a neonatal death
When a baby dies shortly after birth parents will often have barely seen their child without being surrounded by medical equipment. -
Having a post-mortem after a neonatal death
Information and support about deciding whether to have a post-mortem after a neonatal death. You have different options to decide what is best for you.