What can cause neonatal death?
The commonest cause of death within the first four weeks of life is a congenital abnormality (birth defect) such as congenital heart disease or severe spina bifida or rubella syndrome (the effects of German measles infection in early pregnancy). The second most common group to die within the first few weeks are very premature babies and babies with very low birth weight. Others die from infections such as pneumonia and severe neonatal listeria infection. A few babies still die soon after birth as a result of complications during labour and delivery. How do families cope? Losing a baby to stillbirth or shortly after birth is the loss of a child, which shouldn’t be underestimated. The parents must be allowed to grieve fully and need to be supported in their grief. It is important that they name their child and have a funeral in the normal way as this helps with the normal bereavement process. It is painful for parents when friends and family try to avoid mentioning the baby. This is usua
