Support for women/families after perinatal death
Abstract
Background Provision of an empathetic caring environment, and strategies to enable the mother and family to accept the reality of perinatal death, are now part of standard nursing and social support in most of the developed world. Objectives The objective of this review was to assess the effects of the provision of any form of medical, nursing, social or psychological support and/or counselling to mothers and families after perinatal death. Search strategy We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Medline (1966 to 1998) and reference lists of articles. Selection criteria Randomised trials of any form of general support aimed at encouraging acceptance of loss, specific bereavement counselling, or specialised psychological support/counselling including psychotherapy for women and families experiencing perinatal death. Data collection and analysis Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility of trials. Main results No trials were included. Reviewer's conclusions No information is available from randomised trials to indicate whether there is or is not a benefit from providing specific psychological support or counselling after perinatal death.
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Previous Cochrane reviews have assessed the effect of bereavement support interventions and/or counselling on parents and families who have experienced perinatal death.
“Previous Cochrane reviews have assessed the effect of bereavement support interventions and/or counselling on parents and families who have experienced perinatal death (Chambers 1998; Flenady 2008; Koopmans 2013).”
From Support for parents and families after stillbirth and neonatal death (2024) · cites this paper as Chambers 1998
Cohort studies emerged in the 1990s, and the first example of synthesis research, a systematic review, was published in 1998.
“Cohort studies emerged in the 1990s, and the first example of synthesis research, a systematic review, was published in 1998.49”
From Bereavement care guidelines used in health care facilities immediately following perinatal loss: a scoping review (2024) · cites this paper as [49]
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Support for mothers, fathers and families after perinatal death
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“The death of a child has been described as one of the most stressful of all possible losses that individuals can experience (Chambers & Chan, 2004; Harmanen, 1997; Wallerstedt & Higgins, 1996).”
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“A variety of specific support interventions can be offered bereaved parents (Chambers & Chan, 2004, Harvey et al., 2008).”
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- Authors
- Chambers, H., & Chan, F.
- Affiliations
- King Edward Memorial Hospital (AU)
- Venue
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
- Published
- 1998-04-27
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- CD000452-CD000452
- ISSN
- 1361-6137 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1873518368
- Cited by
- 55
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
- Type
- reference entry
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Global Maternal and Child Health
- Keywords
- perinatal death, maternal bereavement, psychological support, grief counseling, psychotherapy, family support, acceptance of loss, maternal mental health, perinatal loss
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Bereavement, Counseling, Death, Family, Female, Fetal Death, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Life Change Events, Pregnancy, Social Support
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