from the lending library

C. A. Reiser, M.S.

A comprehensive resource written specifically for parents who experience the stillbirth of one or more of multiples is nonexistent. This I expected, although I had anticipated finding a chapter or at least 'pages' devoted to this special circumstance in most of the more comprehensive books about parental bereavement following a stillbirth. It turns out this latter expectation was naive. Through the efforts of Jean Kollantai and CLIMB, hopefully this will change.** This Lending Library segment, then, highlights the limited multiple-specific resources that exist.

Limbo, Rana and Sara Rich Wheeler, When a Baby Dies: A Handbook for Helping and Healing, RTS Bereavement Services, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1987. Chapter 7, Loss In a Multiple Pregnancy (Available directly from RTS Bereavement Services, 608-791-4747, $12.40)

No other comprehensive resource for parents of stillborn infants contains a whole chapter, or even several pages, on loss in a multiple pregnancy. The chapter begins with a vignette of parents who learn that one of twins will be delivered stillborn. The remainder of the chapter describes the conflict parents feel when mourning a death and celebrating a life, simultaneously; reactions of others (including the surviving child); and suggestions for remembering as time passes.

Despite the different "combinations" of loss possible in a multiple pregnancy — the loss of one, some or all babies — When a Baby Dies focuses primarily on the instance of twins with one surviving baby.

Johnson, Joy, Marvin Johnson, Debbie Chick, James Cunningham, Susan DeGrino and Nick Degrino, Death of An Infant Twin, Centering Corporation, Omaha, Nebraska, 1984 (available directly from Centering Corporation, 402-553-1200, 45¢ each, discounts for quantity orders)

This 4-page vignette was written specifically for families who experience the death of a newborn twin or other baby who was part of a multiple birth. It is divided into four sections — Grieving, Other People, Taking Care of You, and As Your Living Baby Grows.

At 45¢ it is inexpensive enough for a hospital to keep a small supply on hand, although most hospitals will not have need of 50 or more, the quantity at which discount pricing becomes available.

Center for Loss In Multiple Birth, Inc.
c/o Jean Kollantai
P.O. Box 1064
Palmer, Alaska 99645-1064

CLIMB is a support organization by and for parents of twins, triplets or other higher multiple birth children who have experienced the death of one or more, both or all of them during pregnancy, at birth, in infancy or in childhood. Supported entirely by donations, the group offers the following resources:

•Our Newsletter, published quarterly, which contains personal stories, regular features and resources. ($8.00 suggested donation)

•A parent contact list.

•Special issues of the newsletter such as "Raising Surviving Multiples", "Knowing Ahead" (for parents who learn during pregnancy that one multiple will not live past birth), and "Going Longer" (for those pregnant with multiples after one or more has died). ($1.00 per issue suggested donation)

•A packet of information and support articles (120 pages) and a supplementary listing of other articles on aspects of multiple birth loss. ($12.00 suggested donation)

•A packet of information for twins clubs who wish to go beyond "We're Sorry", materials for infant bereavement support groups and for helping professionals including "Multiple Birth Loss and the NICU/Hospital". ($4.00 suggested donation for clubs, $2.50 for parents)

•Examples of birth/memorial announcements

An order form for a sample copy of Our Newsletter can be requested from the WiSSP Office. Each issue includes information on obtaining the above resources directly from CLIMB.

**As this issue was going to press I learned of an additional resource from Jean Kollantai (see Guest Corner) in which an entire chapter is devoted to loss in a multiple pregnancy. The resource is Noble, Elizabeth (in consultation with Leo Sorger, M.D.), Having Twins, published by Houghton Mifflin, 1991 ($14.95). An added feature of this chapter is the inclusion of an alternative birth plan. A copy of Having Twins will be made available in the WiSSP Lending Library.