[Supporting parents after the death of a premature twin]

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Pediatric nursing
• Family support

Background:

• Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) present unique challenges for families experiencing infant loss.
• The death of one twin creates a dual emotional burden of grief and the need to bond with the surviving infant.
• Healthcare professionals require specific knowledge to navigate these complex family dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key issues faced by families when a twin dies in neonatal intensive care.
• To explore the interplay between grieving and bonding processes in this context.
• To inform the development of effective support strategies for affected families.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research methods were employed to gather in-depth family experiences.
• The study focused on identifying characteristic elements of the support challenges.
• Analysis centered on understanding the concurrent grieving and bonding experiences.

Main Results:

• Families experience profound grief over the lost twin while simultaneously navigating the bonding process with the surviving infant.
• Nurses face challenges in providing holistic care that addresses both the deceased and the living twin's family needs.
• Specific elements contributing to the complexity of family support were identified.

Conclusions:

• Effective support requires acknowledging and addressing both grief and bonding concurrently.
• Nurses play a crucial role in facilitating healthy grieving and bonding for families with a surviving twin.
• Interventions should be tailored to the unique psychosocial needs of families in this situation.