A Guiding Hand for Families in Special Care Nurseries - Digital - Book - Page 48
Special Care Nursery (SCN)
• Regular exercise, such as walking, is good for relieving stress and tension
• Maintaining a balanced diet is important. Keep hydrated and limit junk food
• Avoid using alcohol, medications or drugs to mask the pain
• Try to spend time with those people who comfort and recharge you
• Talking to nurses, social workers and other SCN parents can be helpful
• Some people express intense feelings through creative ways such as
painting, drawing, and writing
• Try to apply coping techniques that have worked for you previously
Below is a table that gives examples of how parents may grieve differently:
He
She
They
He may want to avoid
showing his feelings in
front of other people,
particularly strangers.
She may seek support
groups as an outlet for her
expression.
They may feel betrayed
by their family and friends
through their perceived lack
of understanding and caring.
He may want her and their
life back the way it was
before the event.
She may feel that their
life is irrevocably changed
and will never be the same
again.
They may both be so
caught up in their own grief
that they may not recognise
or understand the grief
experienced by their
children or extended family.
He may feel uncomfortable
dealing with emotions and
may avoid situations which
may require him to do so.
She may need to talk
about the event. She may
go over it time and time
again, trying to gather
every possible detail to
explain how and why.
They both may feel that
the other person is in some
way to blame.
He may need the space to
grieve, behave in his own
way and may resent her
for imposing her feelings
on him.
She may expect him to
grieve and behave the
same as she does and may
think he doesn’t care.
They may seek to numb
their pain through alcohol,
drugs or shopping.
Source: Australian Centre for
Grief and Bereavement
They may sometimes
compete with each other
to see who is grieving the
hardest.
Life’s Little Treasures Foundation | Supporting Families of Premature & Sick Babies
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