Family adjustment to the early loss of a baby born with spina bifida.

Sixteen families were contacted two to seven years after the death of their spina-bifida baby following transfer to a specialist unit and the parents' subsequent decision against active treatment. There was little evidence of serious long-term problems of adjustment on any of the measures assessing marital relationships, parental physical and mental health, and decisions about later pregnancies. Parents welcomed the unit's policy of encouraging frequent contact with their baby, and thought that it had facilitated the grieving process.