Empty cradle
Empty Cradle is a term for self-help groups for mothers and fathers who her baby through miscarriage , premature or stillbirth have lost or in the first year.
Most of them are affiliated with the Rainbow “Glücklose Pregnancy” initiative . V.
Focus
Typical focuses of their work are:
- Accompanying the burial of dead babies: Even funeral homes often don't know how to deal with stillborn babies.
- Establishment of graves for stillborn babies not subject to burial: Stillbirths under a certain minimum weight are not subject to burial in Germany, i.e. they are treated as hospital waste. In extreme cases, the parents were not even allowed to have their stillborn child buried. “Empty Cradle” was involved in setting up graves for these children in several cemeteries.
- Further training for midwives and clinic staff: The medical staff is often overwhelmed when it comes to dealing appropriately with those affected. “ Empty cradle ” has at least alleviated this situation through training and leaflets.
- Public relations: The public - even more than the specialist staff - is not aware of the social and legal implications of a stillbirth. Even registry offices are unfamiliar with the legal aspects of this issue.
Austria
In Austria, the lemma is used not only for self-help groups, but also for supportive offers by experts. It is an interdisciplinary group of hospital employees who want to ensure comprehensive support for the parents concerned.