Perinatal Death: Helping Parents Find Their Way

Abstract

Perinatal death is a profound and common experience, and one that is often underestimated in terms of itsfrequency and its impact. As primary caregivers of parents suffering perinatal loss, nursing and medical staffhave tremendous power to shape parental experiences. In this qualitative, exploratory study, unstructured interviews were conducted with 26 individuals (21 women and 5 men) who had experienced perinatal loss. Subjects' experiences ranged from parents whose perinatal losses had occurred during the 1st trimester, to one man who had lost two children in late pregnancy and a third child to sudden infant death syndrome shortly after birth. Using grounded theoryfor the analysis, this study identifies a number of areas parents cited as problematic during interactions with medical and nursing personnel and also reports gestures and interventions that parentsfound extremely helpful and supportive. Recommendationsfor ways caregivers couldfacilitate parental grief proactively and with insight are offered.