Parents of a child who dies during the first year of life have a higher risk of an early death themselves.
New research shows they are between two and four times more likely to die early or become widowed in the first ten years after losing a child, compared with those who are not bereaved.
Researchers believe it could be because the stress of bereavement leaves a biological legacy – such as suppressing the immune system.
Or it could be because infant deaths are more common in families which have poor health to start with.
Mothers are 1.5 times more likely to die early in the 25 years after a death compared with mothers who have not lost a baby.
At 35 years, the risk is still 1.2 times higher for bereaved mothers compared with those who had not lost a baby.
Scientists analysed a random five per cent sample of death registrations among parents whose children had survived their first year of life and those whose child had died before its first birthday.
They covered the period between 1971 and 2006 and included parents whose children had been stillborn.
Little research has been done on the risks to bereaved parents and it may be that grieving parents are also more likely to commit suicide or turn to alcohol.
The report by York and Stirling universities says it is ‘imperative’ that the matter is investigated further.