Depression and despair
A mother's despair is possibly the most inconsolable emotion. The bond between herself and the baby develops from very early in the pregnancy. There can be feelings of hopelessness when her breasts fill with milk, her arms are empty and aching to hold her baby. This can be intensified when she goes home without her child, perhaps to a waiting nursery. Feeling helpless and vulnerable and not knowing 'what to do' can be common. Coming to the realisation that no one can really do anything to help bring your baby back can be heart wrenching.
It is difficult to comprehend the bravery it takes for parents to walk into their baby's room and feel the emptiness and sadness that they cannot have their baby with them. Maybe closing the door is the short term answer and going in when you feel you are ready to manage it. Don't feel pressured to put your baby's things away, and avoid letting others do it for you. You may not be ready for days or weeks. Take your time to fold and pack the drawers full of your baby's clothes and bedding. For many parents this can be a very emotional but healing process.
Feelings of depression can take you down into a dark hole. If you find yourself there it may be wise to reach out and find a grief counsellor or a support group to help you. If your partner seems depressed and feels unable to reach out, it may be that you need to help them seek support.
If you are feeling depressed, try to avoid taking sedatives, sleeping tablets or alcohol etc. While the occasional one can be of some assistance, routinely taking them usually only suppresses feelings and delays the grief process, leading to further depression and addiction.
If the depression persists or deteriorates, becoming unmanageable you may need to seek the care of a Psychiatrist and possibly accept prescribed medication.
Healing and readjustment