[Parental mourning after a perinatal loss].

Area of Science:

• Perinatal Medicine
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Perinatal loss, encompassing the death of a baby before or after birth, is a profound and complex experience for parents.
• Recognition of the specificities of perinatal mourning has grown since the 1970s, with increasing scientific literature.
• Healthcare professionals require a deeper understanding of perinatal loss to offer adequate familial support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe parental experiences of perinatal loss.
• To explore the role of palliative care in supporting families through perinatal grief.
• To identify how palliative care can help parents find meaning in the aftermath of losing a baby.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research approach, drawing on the lived experiences of parents.
• Insights from a mother and founding member of a French nonprofit organization (Association SPAMA) supporting parents with life-limiting perinatal disorders.
• Collaboration with a neonatologist researching parental experiences after infant loss.

Main Results:

• Parents face unique and complex mourning processes following perinatal loss.
• Palliative care offers a framework for support and meaning-making for grieving families.
• The paper highlights the importance of acknowledging and validating parental grief.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare professionals must be equipped to handle the complexities of perinatal mourning.
• Palliative care principles can inspire and guide families in navigating profound loss.
• Support for parents experiencing perinatal loss is essential for their adaptation and healing process.