Publication:

Care of unfortunate mothers with perinatal loss

Background Perinatal loss is one of the most traumatic life events. It is indeed a great psychological and emotional shock to not only the mother and father but the entire family and society as a whole. The study aims to take physical and psychological care of mother and father, to help in bereavement process, to know the incidence and prevalence and etiological factors of perinatal loss and to study the outcome of psychological support to mother.

Methods It was a prospective analytical study. All patients with IUFD and early neonatal loss were studied. Postpartum both mother and father were counselled. Emotional reaction of both mother and father were recorded. A new ritual of giving the mother her baby (dead) was done to those who were willing for that.

Results The results showed that the incidence of IUFD was 3.7% and early neonatal death was 10.8% per total admissions. The perinatal mortality rate was 63.62 per 1000 live births. There were varied reactions of grief which could be handled by effective counselling. Seeing and holding the baby was associated with fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms than not doing so.

Conclusions Psychological counselling is very important. The patients are helped to cross over the crisis in their life and made them well prepared for next pregnancy. Counselling and communication skills should be routinely included in all residency programmes. Hospitals should have a separate place for mothers with perinatal loss which would help them to overcome their grief.