Cultural processes in psychotherapy for perinatal loss: Breaking the cultural taboo against perinatal grief.

Psychotherapy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rayna D. Markin ◽  
Sigal Zilcha-Mano
Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Sophie Meunier ◽  
Francine de Montigny ◽  
Sabrina Zeghiche ◽  
Dominique Lalande ◽  
Chantal Verdon ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Perinatal loss affects many parents in the workforce. Yet, current knowledge about their workplace experience while facing this difficult event is sparse. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to review and synthesize the extent of scientific literature on the specific experiences of workers coping with perinatal loss and the resulting bereavement. METHODS: A scoping review was carried out using eight different databases. A total of 15 references, all using a qualitative methodology, were identified. Most of the references focused on the experience of mothers and on late perinatal loss (from the 20th week of pregnancy). RESULTS: All references highlighted the taboo and the non-recognition of perinatal grief and bereavement in both organizational practices and interpersonal relationships with colleagues and immediate supervisors. They also emphasized the difficulties associated with returning to work after the loss and the significant changes in the meaning attributed to work. CONCLUSIONS: While the studies included in this review clearly indicate that perinatal loss can affect working life, larger, quantitative studies are needed to quantify this phenomenon and its impact on employees and their organizations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Roberts ◽  
Solomon J. Renati ◽  
Shreeletha Solomon ◽  
Susanne Montgomery

Abstract Background India has the highest number of stillbirths and the highest neonatal death rate in the world. In the context of its pronatalist society, women who experience perinatal loss often encounter significant social repercussions on top of grief. Furthermore, even when pregnancy outcomes were favorable, adverse life circumstances put some women at risk for postnatal depression. Therefore, perinatal loss and postnatal depression take a heavy toll on women’s mental health. The purpose of this study is to assess mental health among a sample of Mumbai slum-dwelling women with a history of recent childbirth, stillbirth, or infant death, who are at risk for perinatal grief, postnatal depression, or mental health sequelae. Methods We conducted a mixed method, cross-sectional study. A focus group discussion informed the development of a comprehensive survey using mainly internationally validated scales. After rigorous forward and back-translation, surveys were administered as face-to-face structured interviews due to low literacy and research naiveté among our respondents. Interviews were conducted by culturally, linguistically, gender-matched, trained research assistants. Results Of our reproductive age (N = 260) participants, 105 had experienced stillbirth, 69 had a history of infant death, and 25 had experienced both types of loss. Nearly half of the sample met criteria for postnatal depression, and 20% of these women also met criteria for perinatal grief. Anxiety and depression varied by subgroup, and was highest among women desiring an intervention. Conclusions Understanding factors contributing to women’s suffering related to reproductive challenges in this pronatalist context is critically important for women’s wellbeing.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
M.S. Setubal ◽  
R. Bolibio ◽  
R.C. Jesus ◽  
G.G. Benute ◽  
M.A. Gibelli ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Expectant parents who live through perinatal loss experience intense grief, which is not always acknowledged or accepted. A screening tool to detect bereaved parents’ grief reactions can guide professionals, including perinatal palliative care teams, to provide follow-up for those in need. This review's goal is to identify and synthesize the international published literature on existent instruments specifically measuring the grieving process after any perinatal loss and to identify factors that could moderate grief reactions. Method Systematic review (PROSPERO # CRD42018092555) with critical synthesis. PUBMED, Cochrane, and PsycINFO databases were searched in English language articles using the keywords “perinatal” AND (“grief” OR “bereavement” OR mourning) AND (“scale” OR “questionnaire” OR “measure” OR “assessment”) up to May 2018. Eligibility criteria included every study using a measure to assess perinatal grief after all kinds of perinatal losses, including validations and translations to other languages and interventions designed to alleviate grief symptoms. Results A total of 67 papers met inclusion criteria. Seven instruments measuring perinatal grief published between 1984 and 2002 are described. The Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS) was used in 53 of the selected studies. Of those, 39 analyzed factors associated with grief reactions. Six articles used PGS scores to evaluate pre- and post-bereavement interventions. Studies in English language only might have limited the number of articles. Significance of results The PGS is the most used standardized measures to assess grief after perinatal loss. All parents living through any kind of perinatal loss should be screened.


2004 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 877-882 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerry Kroth ◽  
Marylynne Garcia ◽  
Michelle Hallgren ◽  
Emilyann LeGrue ◽  
Maureen Ross ◽  
...  

This study investigated correlations among dream characteristics and measures of trauma and perinatal bereavement as reported by women who have experienced perinatal loss. 37 women who had experienced perinatal loss were randomly selected from a perinatal support group and administered the Impact of Event Scale, the Perinatal Grief Scale, and the KJP Dream Inventory. Scores on the Impact of Events Scale (IES) correlated with Emotional Pain (.41), Despair (.37), Dreams of Death (.31), Dreams of Water (–.29), and Dreams of Being Famous (–.36). Subjects who reported higher Social Support and Emotional Expressiveness throughout their trauma showed lower scores on IES Total scores (–.52), Despair (–.62), and reported dreaming more in color (.41). Results are discussed in terms of the hypothesized role dreams may play in the grief-recovery process.


1994 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. M. Hunfeld ◽  
J. W. Wladimiroff ◽  
J. Passchier

In a group of 30 women who underwent induced delivery after they had been informed of a lethal fetal anomaly, 18 women reported that this was the outcome of a clear decision process and 12 reported that they had no choice. In contrast to findings in other research areas, the experience of having perceived control was not associated with lower grief scores three months after perinatal loss.


Affilia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 485-502
Author(s):  
Ines Testoni ◽  
Jenni Bregoli ◽  
Sara Pompele ◽  
Andrea Maccarini

The grieving process after perinatal loss has unique properties. This qualitative study examines one aspect of the grieving process: continuing bonds experienced by the mothers. We offer an interpretative phenomenological analysis of interviews with 15 Italian mothers. Three main relevant themes emerged: “continuing bonds between externalized and internalized presence,” “a difficult guilt to manage,” and “relationships are crucial support systems.” The first one illustrates the ongoing connections to the deceased on the part of mothers and siblings, the second one explores a fixation on finding the cause of the death and related feelings of guilt, while the third one describes the mothers’ process of elaboration of the event, especially with the support of the husband and the community. The findings highlight unique qualities of continuing bonds after perinatal loss and factors that might influence mother’s griefwork, while also suggesting that psychodrama and art therapy could be useful in the management of this kind of loss.


1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Kirkley-Best ◽  
Kenneth R. Kellner ◽  
Terry Ladue

The exact attitudes that physicians hold toward stillbirth have never been empirically explored. Seventy obstetricians and obstetrical residents were polled on their attitudes regarding stillbirth. Physicians simultaneously were assessed for their level of death threat as measured by the Threat Index. No effect of death threat level on attitudes toward stillbirth was observed, even when extreme scores were isolated and compared. Possible reasons for the lack of findings is discussed. Patterns of physicians's responses about perinatal grief are presented. Further dissemination of information on the grief following perinatal loss is encouraged.


Author(s):  
Eloisa Fernández-Ordoñez ◽  
María González-Cano-Caballero ◽  
Cristina Guerra-Marmolejo ◽  
Eloísa Fernández-Fernández ◽  
Marina García-Gámez

Background: Pregnancies that follow perinatal loss are often associated with mental health disorders, which are not usually treated or even identified. Objectives: The main study aim is to identify the prevalence of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and complicated perinatal grief at different stages of pregnancy following a prior gestational loss. Methods: This descriptive longitudinal study will be conducted with a twelve-month follow-up. The study variables addressed will include sociodemographic data (age, sex, education, marital status, employment status and obstetric history) together with clinical data on complicated perinatal grief and post-traumatic stress disorder scores. Results: The results obtained are expected to provide a new perspective on the healthcare approach to perinatal loss and subsequent pregnancy. Conclusions: We seek to optimise comprehensive healthcare in cases of pregnancy following previous perinatal loss and to evaluate options to minimise possible risks.


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