Mort périnatale et d'un jeune enfant. Histoire des rites et des pratiques funéraires en Europe issus de l'expression affective et sociale du deuil. Première partie : de la Préhistoire aux Lumières

Parents' grief can be proven throughout all historic and even prehistoric times. Despite high child mortality rates, the death of a child was not a reality easily admitted by families. Social funeral rites were followed by parents for their moral support, but Catholic Church hegemony in Europe of the Middles Ages became controversial and especially with the development of Protestantism. Until the Enlightenment, the salvation of the soul of a stillborn child constituted a real stake for families. This situation was well understood by Catholic Church which used it to enlarge the baptized community as well maintain power on mourning families as well as tranquilizing parents who had lost a baptized child.