Stillbirth at Term: Grief Theories for Care of Bereaved Women and Families in Intrapartum Settings

AbstractDeath in intrapartum settings poses a paradox for providers, whose expertise may be limited in assisting bereaved women and families facing the trauma of stillbirth. Many providers are familiar with K übler‐Ross’ stage theory of grief; however, more recent theories augment her early work in care of bereaved persons. Through an evolving case study of a couple for whom pregnancy ends in stillbirth at term, 4 theories of grief—loss of the assumptive world, the dual process model, continuing b onds, and complicated grief—are presented to assist intrapartum care providers toward more comprehensive understanding of the complexities of grief responses not fully explained by simple stage theory. These 4 theories are not prescriptive, nor are they comprehensive; however, they are highly rele vant and foundational for current understanding of responses and needs of bereaved women and families for whom pregnancy ends in death.

Source: Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health - May 25, 2020 Category: Midwifery Authors: Beth Perry Black Tags: Review Source Type: research