Authors

Laura Feria Clemente

Position

Matrona. Centro Sanitario Santamaría. El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz)

Contact address

Laura Feria Clemente. C/ Trébole, 4-2 A. 11500 El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz).

Contact email: feriaclemente@outlook.es

Abstract

The present article addresses the topic of perinatal loss and the role of the midwife in terms of care for parents and relatives suffering the loss. Considering the emotional link of parents with their child before birth, death represents a very painful event, with different intensity and duration depending on circumstances such as gestational age, personality of the parents (particularly of the mother), the quality of communication between them, the family circumstances surrounding the death, the likelihood of conceiving another child and, most of all, the social support perceived, particularly from the midwife and the obstetrics care team. The article highlights the importance of the fact that the midwife takes into account the needs of those in grief, that she shows empathy and is sincerely willing to provide information and emotional support, with the aim to encourage the normal course of the grieving process.

Keywords:

perinatal death; miscarriage; neonatal death; mourning; grief; emotional support; midwife; midwife

Versión en Español

Título:

Duelo por la pérdida perinatal