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Perinatal Loss: Providing Emotional Support for Bereaved Parents
Author(s) -
Davis Deborah L.,
Stewart Marguerite,
Harmon Robert J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
birth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.233
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1523-536X
pISSN - 0730-7659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-536x.1988.tb01118.x
Subject(s) - grief , feeling , active listening , emotional support , limiting , health professionals , psychology , health care , social support , psychotherapist , nursing , medicine , social psychology , mechanical engineering , engineering , economics , economic growth
This paper focuses on parents’emotional needs after perinatal loss and ways in which health care professionals can meet those needs. Parents must be educated about the grieving process and have their feelings acknowledged and validated. Health professionals can support parents by being available and listening, giving clear medical information, addressing parents’concerns, acknowledging the special situation, limiting the use of tranquilizers, providing follow‐up, making referrals to support groups or for psychologic counseling, and learning what is helpful to say to bereaved parents. To be able to approach parents and offer support, ealth professionals must be aware of their own reactions to the death of a baby, loss, and grief. Receiving staff support better enables them to offer effective emotional support to bereaved parents.