Sternen children: A sensitive topic is finally heard in Austria!

Sternen children: A sensitive topic is finally heard in Austria!

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - On March 11, 2025 at 10:35 p.m., Andrea Eder's new documentary will be broadcast on ORF 2 and ORF ON, which deals with the often concealed theme of the "star children". These children die before, during or shortly after birth, and the exact number of these cases in Austria remains unknown. Around 300 stillbirths occur every year, but reliable statistics on miscarriages are missing. Andrea Eder interviewed affected parents and illuminated their unspeakable pain and grief, as she describes Iris, for example, who had to give birth to her child dead. Such silent births are often shaped by never -ending grief - the birth is nevertheless considered a new beginning, as gynecologist Susanne Heller explains.

In this documentation, the journey of the star parents is presented by grief and hope, accompanied by initiatives such as the Regenbogen association, which has established a fathers mourning group through Fabian Busch-Budzinski, and the lawyer Monika Romaniewicz, which is strong for the rights of the star parents. The mourning for a star child is in intensity regardless of the elongated period of pregnancy and requires continuous discussion. Manuela Schwabe, also a star person, describes the support she offers other families to do the loss together and illustrates how Caritas employees help share the pain in the community.

of star children and rainbow babies

The concept of the "rainbow babies" represents a fresh start after the loss of a star child. These children are a symbol of hope that grows up after a time of severe grief. The mother of a rainbow baby will never replace the lost child, but rather represents a fresh start, for which those affected feel both joy and fear. As in the reports of Regenbogenmamas.de , the emotional challenges are great again if families are desired again after a loss. The grief remains and the perception of the new pregnancy is complex.

Andrea Eder's documentation and the stories of affected parents are a necessary step in the public examination of the topic of "star children". They show how important it is to recognize the dignity and loss of these children and at the same time respond to the needs of star child parents to support healing processes. This is the only way to develop a society in which the pain of the loss no longer remains isolated.