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Why my baby died: A graphic narrative

What was this project about?

The death of a baby during pregnancy, at or soon after birth (perinatal death) is devastating for parents, families and staff involved. While pregnancy loss is a ‘common’ outcome of pregnancy, it remains a neglected area of research and resourcing, and steeped in stigma.

To challenge this stigma around pregnancy loss, and bridge the gap between what we know from research and what happens in policy and practice, we strive to disseminate our research in creative ways, with a wide audience.

We commissioned , an illustrator who works in coloured pencils, broad colour palettes and storytelling, to work with us on our first graphic medicine project: “Why my baby died”.

For us, illustrating the research in this way, provides important, actionable insights – to clinicians, policymakers and other knowledge users – into what is needed to promote better communication, awareness, and prevention of future deaths where possible. Available in electronic and hardcopy formats, we are actively disseminating "Why my baby died" to targeted audiences, including as part of education and training programmes for health professionals. 

“Why my baby died" is based on the research study “” by Dr Änne Helps, Professor Keelin O'Donoghue, Orla O'Connell and Dr Sara Leitao.

What was involved?

Involving bereaved parents in their baby’s care and in the maternity hospital reviews that take place after a baby’s death can help parents manage their bereavement and plan for the future. In Ireland, bereaved parents generally have not been involved in this review process. In 2021, we interviewed 20 bereaved parents, about their experience and views, to investigate how they could be involved in maternity hospital perinatal death reviews in ways that benefit them and the review process itself. This graphic narrative – “Why my baby died” – tells their story, in their own words.

Who was involved?

Project team

Acknowledgements

We thank the parents who participated in , whose words form the basis of this graphic narrative.

Copyrighted illustrations by Amy Lauren. Book design by Amy Lauren.

Dissemination activities

Invited talks

• Hennessy M, Helps Ä, Lauren A, Leitao S, Nuzum D, O'Donoghue K. Why My Baby Died. Irish Hospice Foundation Arts and Creative Engagement Roundtable Gathering. Dublin, 15 June 2023.

Press releases

• Irish Hospice Foundation. (2022, December 08) .

• Pregnancy Loss Research Group. (2023, June 06) Why my baby died: New graphic narrative from the Pregnancy Loss Research Group in collaboration with Amy Lauren.

• Pregnancy Loss Research Group. (2024, July 21) Bringing pregnancy loss out of the shadows at the 15th International Graphic Medicine Conference in Athlone.  

Television

• Conway G. (2024, July 17) RTÉ ��ҹ���޸����þ�: Six One.  [From 37:08-37:16 & 38:18-40:35]

��ҹ���޸����þ�/Magazine articles

• Wayman S. (2024, June 25) Where comic books meet healthcare: ‘We recognise that we need to communicate in different ways’. Irish Times. . 
• Conway, G. (2024, July 17) Ties between comics and medicine explored in Co Westmeath. RTE ��ҹ���޸����þ�. .
• Unknown. (2024, July 18) International Graphic Medicine Conference held in Athlone. Westmeath Independent. .
• O’Looney S. (2024, July 23) LOL: July 23, 2024. Irish Medical Times. .
• Griffin N. (2024, October 09) Grieving parents who lost a baby in pregnancy use project to demand improved hospital reviews. Irish Examiner. .

Exhibitions

• , ��ҹ���޸����þ� College Cork, 03 May 2023.
• , Technological ��ҹ���޸����þ� of the Shannon, Athlone, 16-18 July 2024. 
• Cork ��ҹ���޸����þ� Maternity Hospital, 09 October – 09 November 2024.  

Irish Hospice Foundation website

Exhibition, The Glucksman, May 2023

Project status

Completed: November 2022 to May 2023

For support

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this graphic narrative, you can find details of information and supports at .

Further information

Please email Marita Hennessy PhD: maritahennessy@ucc.ie