Barb Himes, CD

As the research, medical, and healthcare professions continue their dedicated work to reduce infant mortality, the reality is that infants do die, and their deaths do leave an emotional mark on the universe of family, friends, and caregivers that surround them.

Understanding and acting on the effects of grief and bereavement are critical and necessary for the health of those affected by infant loss, and in October 2023, two conferences will focus on aspects of this need.

Examining causes of infant death, the latest research, and addressing bereavement will feature in the biennial International Conference on Stillbirth, SIDS, and SUDI (ISPID), to be held in Florence, Italy, 5 – 8 October 2023. This conference is Baby Survival: Global Achievements and Future Challenges and is open to professionals, families, students/medical residents, and individuals worldwide. The programs and workshops will cover advances in epidemiology, pathology, physiology, prevention, and bereavement. Topics include sessions on, among others:

• SIDS pathophysiology and SUID and Stillbirth epidemiology
• SUID Bereavement
• SUIDS and SIDS pathology
• Genetics and Metabolomics
• Individual sessions include topics on, among others:
• Improving support available for healthcare professionals experiencing professional grief and loss in response to neo- natal death within a neonatal intensive care unit in a tertiary maternity hospital.
• A Genomic Investigation of Sudden Unexpected Postnatal Collapse in Hospitalized Neonates.

Some conference topics are a reminder that those affected by infant loss include healthcare professionals themselves. They become part of the family’s fabric during perinatal care and should a perinatal or infant death occur. It does happen that the families will continue to reach out to the neonatology professionals they have come to know as they weather their grief. In addition, a new training initiative that will be held immediately after the conference is the ISPID Peer Support Program, an international certification program designed to provide individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to support bereaved families. Its first session will occur on 8-9 October in Florence, and conference attendance is not required. ISPID committee members have developed the program in partnership with Harvard Medical School.Those enrolling in the program will learn about current research in bereavement and peer support and the hands-on and practical skills needed to facilitate groups. Information about the ISPID Conference presentations and workshops and the certification program can be found at https://ispid2023florence.com/. In the United States, First Candle will be hosting an Infant Loss and Stillbirth Bereavement Conference on October 21 in Connecticut. The one-day live/remote hybrid conference is directed at parents.

Sessions will include:

• A three-hour workshop with Kelly Farley, author, speaker, and founder of Grieving Dads. He and his wife have suffered loss through miscarriage and stillbirth, which has led to his ongo- ing work with bereaved fathers.
• Respecting Your Partner’s Grief Style.
• Managing a Sibling’s Grief.
• Healing through Art, led by Asami Green.
• A Rainbow Baby, Maybe? Understanding the mixed feelings around having another baby and the possible fear and anxiety.
• The conference will also include a celebration of life to remember all our babies gone too soon.
• Information and registration can be found at www.firstcandle.org.