Caring routines in many countries for parents following the death of a baby have shifted over the last 40 years, from initial recommendations that parents should not see their baby, to the opposite in present day. This study aims to describe mothers' gratitude for the actions taken by health professionals in connection with the birth of their child. The study also examines whether the aspects of care for which they were grateful differed between mothers whose children died before and after 1990. Data was collected from 799 women via a questionnaire posted on the homepage of the Swedish National Infant Foundation. Women who gave birth to a stillborn child after 1990 expressed gratefulness more often than women who gave birth to a stillborn child before 1990, for several reasons including the help received in creating memories of their baby. The motherswere thankful for being supported in their motherhood, and that the staff encouraged them to see, hold and be with their baby.