Effect of a structured follow‐up visit to a midwife on women with early miscarriage: a randomized study

Abstract

A structured follow-up visit did not, in comparison with a regular follow-up visit, imply any significant reduction in grief as measured using the PGS scale. However, the subgroup missed abortion had more extensive grief than the other women with miscarriage. Structured follow-up visits are not imperative for all women with early miscarriage.

Grief Following Pregnancy Loss – Literature Review

“…Somewhat consistent results are found when level of grief after miscarriage and the presence of prior psychiatric symptoms are studied, with preloss coping capacity seeming to be predictive of level of grief. Finally, the absence of studies on the effects of social support and religious participation on level of grief following miscarriage prevents any conclusions from being drawn [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] .…”

Primary care considerations of miscarriage management

“…Although the study started out with 146 participants, only 88 women remained in the study after the inclusion criteria were applied. Although the control and intervention groups were well matched, the authors stated that they could not demonstrate statistical significance in the reduction of perinatal grief scores as the sample size was too small to demonstrate statistical significance and in order to do so, the study would need 169 women in each group (Adolfsson, Bertero, & Larsson, 2006 research is insufficient to demonstrate the need for a psychological intervention as a first line of treatment versus medical care in the management of a woman post-miscarriage. Having said this, given the evidence this research provides, a woman's preference for treatment and follow up should play the greatest role in the decision-making around psychological care of a woman after miscarriage.…”

“…The resulting invalidating environment created a credibility gap between the patient and their caregivers. The clinicians involved with this research later changed their practice to allow for earlier appointments for those women who suspected that something is amiss with their pregnancies (Adolfsson, Bertero, & Larsson, 2006).…”

“…The first of these articles was a study by Adolfsson, Bertero, and Larsson (2006). This study captured the uniqueness of the women who had miscarried using the Perinatal Grief Scale Swedish short version to measure whether follow-up was helpful to reduce grief (Adolfsson, Bertero, & Larsson, 2006 allowing her to be emotionally present and an hour was given for the appointment. The woman would be treated as influenced by Swanson's theory of caring which allowed the midwife to be emotionally invested in the woman, to treat the woman with dignity, and be competent in skillfully meeting the woman's needs.…”

“…The perinatal grief scale includes guilt and anxiety and has been validated in depression and marital relationships. The authors chose the Perinatal Grief Scale because it measures depression and normal grief rather than just depression (Adolfsson, Bertero, & Larsson, 2006).…”