Abstract
Losing a child is among the most difficult situations in life. The closer to the date of birth it happens, the worse parents cope with the loss.
From a psychological point of view we can talk about a crisis situation. This crisis affects primarily the mother whose child died, but of course also other family members.
Death of a child, however, is an emotional burden also for health professionals. The text describes the process of mourning, then we discuss protective factors that facilitate the successful course of this process, and at the conclusion we give practical recommendations for health professionals caring for parents who are going through this crisis experience.