No happy ending: pregnancy loss and bereavement

Bleeding in pregnancy signals not only danger but often failure and loss and the start of bereavement. This chapter identifies types of loss experienced in pregnancy and the bereavement process. In addition, the social aspects of bereavement as they concern marital relationships are identified. The impact of the personal losses of those in the helping profession also are discussed. Working with parents experiencing perinatal death should include interventions involved with physical care, psychological support, and aspects of perinatal death education. Follow-up care is critical to the ongoing assessment and evaluation of parents' progress through the bereavement process. Specific aspects of follow-up care are suggested, including data and information regarding parent support groups.