
Understanding Baby Loss
The Sociology of Life, Death and Post-Mortem
Manchester University Press
Published on 3. June 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
248 pages
978-1-5261-9156-4 (ISBN)
Description
This book offers a detailed and sensitive account of how parents experience different forms of baby loss, and subsequently make decisions about post-mortem examination. It also analyses some of the challenges professionals face when working in this highly sensitive field of medicine. It draws on data from an ESRC award-winning UK based study on the development of minimally invasive post-mortem to examine a range of sociologically pertinent issues relating to: 'trauma' 'emotions', 'decisions', 'care' 'technology' 'memory' and the role of 'social and biological relationships'. By shedding light on this taboo aspect of healthcare, the book provides a highly original contribution to sociology, offering a comprehensive analysis of some of the most pressing concerns in the field to date. -- .
Reviews / Votes
Winner of British Sociological Association Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness Book Prize 2024CHOICE: Recommended
'By shedding light on this taboo aspect of healthcare, the book provides a highly original contribution to the sociology of emotions, medical sociology, death and dying studies and science and technology studies. It is a book that I wholeheartedly recommend to further advance understanding of perinatal bereavement and post-mortem care.'
Dr Kerry Jones, Senior Lecturer in End-of-Life Care, The Open University -- .
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Manchester
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
317 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5261-9156-4 (9781526191564)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Kate Reed | Julie Ellis | Elspeth Whitby
Understanding Baby Loss
The Sociology of Life, Death and Post-Mortem
E-Book
11/2023
1st Edition
Manchester University Press
€178.99
Available for download

Kate Reed | Julie Ellis | Elspeth Whitby
Understanding Baby Loss
The Sociology of Life, Death and Post-Mortem
E-Book
11/2023
1st Edition
Manchester University Press
from
€178.99
Available for download
Persons
Kate Reed is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester
Julie Ellis is a Research Associate at the University of Sheffield
Elspeth Whitby is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust -- .
Julie Ellis is a Research Associate at the University of Sheffield
Elspeth Whitby is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust -- .
Content
Introduction
1 Trauma
2 Decisions
3 Technology
4 Emotions
5 Care
6 Memory
7 Relationships
Conclusion: Life after death
References -- .
1 Trauma
2 Decisions
3 Technology
4 Emotions
5 Care
6 Memory
7 Relationships
Conclusion: Life after death
References -- .