Pregnancy termination, perceived control, and perinatal grief

Area of Science:

• Perinatal medicine
• Psychology of loss
• Maternal-fetal medicine

Background:

• Perinatal loss due to lethal fetal anomaly presents unique challenges.
• Understanding maternal psychological responses is crucial for supportive care.
• The role of perceived control in grief following such loss is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between perceived control and grief levels in women undergoing induced delivery for lethal fetal anomaly.
• To explore women's experiences of decision-making in this context.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 30 women undergoing induced delivery for lethal fetal anomaly was studied.
• Participants reported on their decision-making process (perceived control) and grief scores were assessed three months post-loss.

Main Results:

• 18 women reported a clear decision process, while 12 felt they had no choice.
• Perceived control was not significantly associated with lower grief scores at three months post-perinatal loss.

Conclusions:

• Perceived control may not mitigate grief in the context of induced delivery for lethal fetal anomaly.
• Findings contrast with established grief research, highlighting the complexity of perinatal loss experiences.
• Further research is needed to understand factors influencing grief in this specific population.