Advanced Bereavement Care in a Maternity

Advanced Bereavement Care in a Maternity

1. IMPACT OF STILLBIRTH OR NEONATAL DEATH One of the most traumatic life experiences  Grief similar to the death of any loved one, parent, brother sister or older child 5‘It is something that I least expected and bearing in mind that all through I was okay with the pregnancy I never thought this would have happened… it left me in pieces. ‘ Joy mother Kenya

2. NOT AS OTHER DEATHS  Loss of the baby  Loss of the future, hopes, dreams, being a parent Unique loss Against the ‘natural’ order parents should die before children  Often unexpected, sudden  Little evidence that the baby ever lived  Few shared memories  People don’t know what to say or do  Sense of failure for parents  Traditional beliefs that the cause is bad omens, witchcraft, immoral behaviour

3. LOSS. GRIEF AND BEREAVEMENT Loss Breaking an attachment to something or someone which leads to changed relationship Physical (people, things) or symbolic (roles, ideas, dreams) Bereavement Losing someone valuable, usually through death Grief Reaction to loss, expressed through feelings, behaviors, socially, physically, spiritually

4. GRIEF PROCESS Depression Anger Bargaining Denial Acceptance

5. What influences grief response Circumstances surrounding the baby’s death The significance of the loss The nature of the relationship with the baby Personality, background, inner resources Previous experiences and how these were managed Support systems available Health workers have the most direct contacts with women and families during the first hours and days after the birth