Bonus: The Replacement Child Syndrome from the Perspective of a Bereaved Mom

As a bereaved mother, grief counselor, and life coach for parents
who have lost a baby, I approached a seminar by Kristina
Schellinski on the topic of "replacement children and their paths
to a new life" with curiosity but also some apprehension. Over
two days, I had the opportunity to learn, ask questions, feel,
and understand a lot. 


The topic of having another child is difficult and filled with
hope and anxiety for many bereaved parents, including myself.
Sometimes, it seems like the only logical course of action is to
close your eyes and try to forget.


It can be challenging for parents to hear that adult "rainbow
babies" can suffer from replacement child syndrome. Questions
such as "Is every subsequent child a replacement child?" and "Am
I not allowed to have children anymore?" can trigger additional
worries and grief.


Many bereaved parents feel misunderstood and unseen as parents
who want nothing more than a (living) child.


After the seminar, I recorded a German podcast episode about the
topic. Kristina listened to it and asked if I could record
something similar for the replacementchildforum.com. In my role
as a bereaved mother and counselor and coach for bereaved
parents, this podcast episode is an attempt to bridge the gap and
sensitively address this topic with affected parents.





Foto von Kelly-Ann Tan auf Unsplash