Support for mothers, fathers and families after perinatal death

Abstract

Background Provision of an empathetic caring environment, and strategies to enable the mother, father and family to accept the reality of perinatal death, are now an accepted part of standard nursing and social support in most of the developed world. Provision of interventions such as psychological support or counselling, or both, has been suggested to improve outcomes for families after a perinatal death. Objectives The objective of this review was to assess the effects of the provision of any form of medical, nursing, social or psychological support or counselling, or both, to mother, father and families after perinatal death. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 October 2007) and reference lists of articles. Selection criteria Randomised trials of any form of general support aimed at encouraging acceptance of loss, specific bereavement counselling, or specialised psychological support/counselling including psychotherapy for mother, father and families experiencing perinatal death. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently assessed eligibility of trials; a third person subsequently assessed the quality of the identified trials as a part of this review update. Main results No trials were included.

Effects of severe obstetric complications on women’s health and infant mortality in Benin

“…It has sometimes been said that women in developing countries are ‘used to’ child mortality, and endure their circumstances ( Sheper-Hugues 1992 ; Finerman 1995 ). Our study shows that this is not the case, and that efforts should be made to test approaches to prevent prolonged emotional disturbance after perinatal death in all settings ( Flenady & Wilson 2008 ).…”

Effects of severe obstetric complications on women’s health and infant mortality in Benin

“…It has sometimes been said that women in developing countries are ‘used to’ child mortality, and endure their circumstances ( Sheper-Hugues 1992 ; Finerman 1995 ). Our study shows that this is not the case, and that efforts should be made to test approaches to prevent prolonged emotional disturbance after perinatal death in all settings ( Flenady & Wilson 2008 ).…”

Perinatal bereavement: a principle‐based concept analysis

“…Grief is a symptom of bereavement (Flenady & Wilson 2008), but not the only response to bereavement (Kastenbaum 2007). Grief is the emotional reaction that follows the loss of a valued other (Brier 2008); or a normal response (Bruhn & Bruhn 1984) characterized by intense and deep sorrow that may be manifested in psychological, physical, behavioral, or social ways (Bartellas & Van Aerde 2003).…”

“…Analysis of the linguistic principle revealed that perinatal bereavement is consistently used in the literature to refer to the experience that begins immediately following a perinatal loss; however the lack of a precise definition (epistemological immaturity) limits the depth of meaning across contexts. Research endeavors to study and compare the experience of perinatal bereavement have been fraught with difficulties related to the contextual variable of time, such as gestation at the time of the loss and duration of bereavement (Toedter et al 2001, Flenady & Wilson 2008). The data were clear that the term perinatal bereavement is used in reference to the time that begins after the unintended or unexpected loss of a pregnancy or death of an infant, or after a planned termination for fetal anomalies.…”

Evidence from facility level inputs to improve quality of care for maternal and newborn health: interventions and findings

“…These interventions are reported to be more effective in settings with high initiation rates; hence strategies to increase the uptake of breastfeeding should be in place [ 42 ]. A review evaluating the impact of supportive interventions for mothers, fathers or families after perinatal death did not find any study for inclusion [ 43 ].…”

Effects of severe obstetric complications on women’s health and infant mortality in Benin

“…It has sometimes been said that women in developing countries are ‘used to’ child mortality, and endure their circumstances ( Sheper-Hugues 1992 ; Finerman 1995 ). Our study shows that this is not the case, and that efforts should be made to test approaches to prevent prolonged emotional disturbance after perinatal death in all settings ( Flenady & Wilson 2008 ).…”

Perinatal bereavement: a principle‐based concept analysis

“…Grief is a symptom of bereavement (Flenady & Wilson 2008), but not the only response to bereavement (Kastenbaum 2007). Grief is the emotional reaction that follows the loss of a valued other (Brier 2008); or a normal response (Bruhn & Bruhn 1984) characterized by intense and deep sorrow that may be manifested in psychological, physical, behavioral, or social ways (Bartellas & Van Aerde 2003).…”

“…Analysis of the linguistic principle revealed that perinatal bereavement is consistently used in the literature to refer to the experience that begins immediately following a perinatal loss; however the lack of a precise definition (epistemological immaturity) limits the depth of meaning across contexts. Research endeavors to study and compare the experience of perinatal bereavement have been fraught with difficulties related to the contextual variable of time, such as gestation at the time of the loss and duration of bereavement (Toedter et al 2001, Flenady & Wilson 2008). The data were clear that the term perinatal bereavement is used in reference to the time that begins after the unintended or unexpected loss of a pregnancy or death of an infant, or after a planned termination for fetal anomalies.…”

Evidence from facility level inputs to improve quality of care for maternal and newborn health: interventions and findings

“…These interventions are reported to be more effective in settings with high initiation rates; hence strategies to increase the uptake of breastfeeding should be in place [ 42 ]. A review evaluating the impact of supportive interventions for mothers, fathers or families after perinatal death did not find any study for inclusion [ 43 ].…”

Effects of severe obstetric complications on women’s health and infant mortality in Benin

“…It has sometimes been said that women in developing countries are ‘used to’ child mortality, and endure their circumstances ( Sheper-Hugues 1992 ; Finerman 1995 ). Our study shows that this is not the case, and that efforts should be made to test approaches to prevent prolonged emotional disturbance after perinatal death in all settings ( Flenady & Wilson 2008 ).…”

Perinatal bereavement: a principle‐based concept analysis

“…Grief is a symptom of bereavement (Flenady & Wilson 2008), but not the only response to bereavement (Kastenbaum 2007). Grief is the emotional reaction that follows the loss of a valued other (Brier 2008); or a normal response (Bruhn & Bruhn 1984) characterized by intense and deep sorrow that may be manifested in psychological, physical, behavioral, or social ways (Bartellas & Van Aerde 2003).…”

“…Analysis of the linguistic principle revealed that perinatal bereavement is consistently used in the literature to refer to the experience that begins immediately following a perinatal loss; however the lack of a precise definition (epistemological immaturity) limits the depth of meaning across contexts. Research endeavors to study and compare the experience of perinatal bereavement have been fraught with difficulties related to the contextual variable of time, such as gestation at the time of the loss and duration of bereavement (Toedter et al 2001, Flenady & Wilson 2008). The data were clear that the term perinatal bereavement is used in reference to the time that begins after the unintended or unexpected loss of a pregnancy or death of an infant, or after a planned termination for fetal anomalies.…”

Evidence from facility level inputs to improve quality of care for maternal and newborn health: interventions and findings

“…These interventions are reported to be more effective in settings with high initiation rates; hence strategies to increase the uptake of breastfeeding should be in place [ 42 ]. A review evaluating the impact of supportive interventions for mothers, fathers or families after perinatal death did not find any study for inclusion [ 43 ].…”