by BabyCenter Guest Blogger posted in Pregnancy

By Laura Dewire
One in four women will lose a child at some point during pregnancy. In many cases, the child is lost to families who already have other children. Those siblings have developed their own hopes and aspirations for their sister or brother. They dream of what their sibling will look like, act like, be like. They prepare a space in their hearts for that new baby, and when the baby is lost, that space needs to be nurtured and loved.
Nothing is more sacred than the innocence of a child. Children are wildly curious and vastly compassionate, and they have an unfathomable capacity for grace and love. Children are resilient and fragile all at the same time. That's why discussing tragic events with little ones can be so difficult -- and why it?s so important during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month to recognize the impact of child loss on the entire family.
Losing a child leaves a hole in everyone?s heart, but it?s imperative that when dealing with infant loss, we take the time to recognize that children, like adults, have their own way of processing grief that requires tactful, compassionate care. As a teacher of first and second grade, I?ve learned a lot from my students about how to care for a child who is hurting. Here are the best practices I?ve found for helping a grieving child:

Be an active listener. Allow the child to feel a full range of emotions -- sometimes all at the same time. Be the listener you ...