Talking to Children

There are many resources and materials available to use with children about a death in the family which you may find helpful. However, termination for a fetal anomaly is a very specific and sensitive area, and this leaflet focuses on the special difficulties.

Parents who end a pregnancy because an anomaly is diagnosed in their baby experience a particular kind of grief and loss. The loss rests upon a decision you have taken, which can make this extremely difficult to talk about. Parents often worry a great deal about how, and what, to tell their other children.

You have experienced the loss of your baby, but children can find this especially confusing and difficult to understand. Partners may feel differently about what has happened, and the questions it raises. Whatever your differences, it is important that both of you agree with what you are going to tell your children, and how you approach the subject. This leaflet discusses some of the things you might want to consider.

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