Evidence for healing interventions with perinatal bereavement

Area of Science:

• Perinatal mental health
• Bereavement studies
• Psychological trauma

Background:

• Perinatal grief, resulting from pregnancy loss or infant death, is a deeply painful experience often minimized by society.
• Historical shifts in professional intervention for bereaved parents have moved from protective to supportive approaches.
• Understanding the unique needs of bereaved parents is crucial for effective support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept of perinatal grief.
• To identify evidence-based healing interventions for perinatal grief.
• To highlight the role of meaning-making in the healing process for bereaved parents.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on grief, bereavement, and healing interventions.
• Analysis of research on parental grief expressions influenced by gender, age, and relationships.
• Examination of children's grief experiences and participation in rituals.

Main Results:

• Meaning-making, facilitated by symbols, spirituality, and rituals, is central to healing.
• Memories play a key role in the grief healing process.
• Grief expressions and experiences vary based on individual factors like gender, age, and relationships.

Conclusions:

• Professional support validating grief, facilitating rituals, providing mementos, and encouraging storytelling can promote healing.
• While interventions cannot replace the lost child, they can significantly aid the parents' healing journey.
• Children's grief should be acknowledged and they should be included in grief rituals according to their developmental stage.