Page 3:articles on stillbirth, perinatal death

"The Forgotten Grief" was the title of both my dissertation and an article published in 1982 in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. I called these writings by that name, because at the time, parents of stillborns, miscarriages and neonatal deaths were afforded very little help, and most of the work in professional journals was speculation, or raising knowledge of the vast need for in-hospital, family, and Clergy Support. Over the past 25 years, much research and writing has been done and families have formed significant help organizations worldwide. This section of our page will make available certain seminal articles regarding various topics in Stillbirth Bereavement. As we are just getting online, we have one article linked which should be available to most.

The Forgotten Grief: A Review of the Psychology of Stillbirth

The first overall literature review of research and writings in the field of Perinatal Bereavement which collated and synthesized data from the previous 80 years: reviewed are research articles, theoretical positions, and descriptive observations with recommendations for a then emerging field. Since that time, the field has expanded in all areas, and the amount of literature has increased geometrically. An excellent beginning point for research. eb

On Stillbirth: An Open Letter to the Clergy, in Journal of Pastoral Care, 1982, by Kirkley-Best, E., et al.

This "Open letter" summarizes the need and process for Clergy members whose congregates experience a perinatal death. Expresses a description of the Grief, and is followed by practical suggestions of the way clergy can involve themselves in the comfort and support of parents. Written by a team of hospital-based professionals who were at the time a part of the Perinatal Mortality Counseling Program at Shands Teaching Hospital, UF, Gainesville, FL.

Grief at Stillbirth: An Annotated Bibliography by Elizabeth Kirkley-Best Ph.D. and Kenneth R. Kellner M.D. PhD.

A comprehensive bibliography and reference list up to 1981 of most pertinent and seminal articles in the Psychological, Psychiatric and Medical Literature on Stillbirth, Miscarriage, Neonatal Death and other forms of Perinatal death, mourning and bereavement. Much has been done research wise between 1981 and 2007, but this article capsulates in brief descriptive paragraph form the major articles available through traditional sources (Psych Abstracts, ERIC, Medline, etc) up to 1981, when the modern 'field' of Perinatal Bereavement research and support was established. This is a helpful overview for those beginning doctoral or Master's level work in this area, but must be complemented by a thorough reading of the entries up to 81 and after. Birth and the Family Journal on which Dr. Best was a book reviewer, now is offered at most major University and Hospital libraries as Birth. For a more extensive and updated bibliography, see Forgotten Grief's Bibliography at http://www.forgottengrief.com/FGbibliog.html

Management of Patient for Emotional Trauma of Perinatal Death in Collected Letters of the International Correspondence Soceity of Obtetricians oand Gynecologists, KR Kellner(ED)-article: Response: E.K.Best, PhD by Elizabeth Kirkley-Best Ph.D

A collection of letters by reknown Physicians, researchers and pastors regarding the care of parents experiencing a perinatal death: includes: Dr. Kirkley-Best, Dr. Glen Davidson, Dr. Emanuel Lewis at Tavistock and othersl

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Title taken from "The Forgotten Grief" published in American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1982 and as her dissertation in 1981.

The Forgotten Grief: Articles