Parental Grief and Memento Mori Photography: Narrative, Meaning, Culture, and Context

Blood, Cybele; Cacciatore, Joanne

doi:10.1080/07481187.2013.788584

Cited by 50 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Researchers and parents agree that perinatal bereavement interventions should validate the baby’s worth and existence, support parents’ expression of grief and mourning, assist in meaning-making, and improve parents’ ability to cope with the death (Murray et al 2000 ; Blood and Cacciatore 2014 ; Wheeler 2001 ; Capitulo 2005 ). Research has elucidated the value of bereavement photographs for these tasks (Blood and Cacciatore 2014 ; Capitulo 2005 ; Riches and Dawson 1998 ), yet often in perinatal death the only opportunities to capture the baby’s visage occur postmortem. A vast majority of U.S. and European parents participating in research report gratitude for postmortem photographs of their newborn; conversely most express regret if they do not have such photos (Gold et al 2007 ; Harvey et al 2008 ; Blood and Cacciatore 2014 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research has elucidated the value of bereavement photographs for these tasks (Blood and Cacciatore 2014 ; Capitulo 2005 ; Riches and Dawson 1998 ), yet often in perinatal death the only opportunities to capture the baby’s visage occur postmortem. A vast majority of U.S. and European parents participating in research report gratitude for postmortem photographs of their newborn; conversely most express regret if they do not have such photos (Gold et al 2007 ; Harvey et al 2008 ; Blood and Cacciatore 2014 ). Two studies have identified postmortem bereavement photography as “one of the most helpful services” during the crisis of a newborn’s death [(Gold et al 2007 ), p. 1160].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Best practice in bereavement photography after perinatal death: qualitative analysis with 104 parents

Blood

Cacciatore

2014

BMC Psychol

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BackgroundPostmortem memento photography has emerged in Western hospitals as part of compassionate bereavement care for parents facing perinatal death. Many parents endorse this psychosocial intervention, yet implementation varies greatly and little research on parents’ specific needs guides health care professionals. Parents are in crisis and vulnerable after the death of their child, thus best practice is crucial. This study contributes 104 parents’ experiences and opinions toward the understanding of best practice in perinatal bereavement photography.MethodsParents who experienced the perinatal death of their child were recruited from U.S.-based bereavement organizations and social media sites. Volunteers completed an anonymous internet survey with open- and closed-ended questions. Direct recommendations and pertinent statements regarding the process of postmortem photography were analyzed for thematic content in keeping with conventional content analysis. Recurrent themes and sub-themes were counted to identify response patterns.ResultsOf 93 parents with pictures, 92 endorsed them. Of 11 without pictures, nine wanted them. Parents made a variety of recommendations regarding appropriate psychosocial support, the consent process, obstacles to photography, logistics of photography, and material aspects of photographs themselves. Overall, parents wanted many pictures and much variety. Some wanted professional photography while others wanted support for taking their own pictures. Parents wanted guidance from staff who respected their particular needs. Many said decisions were difficult during their crisis. Parents who were initially resistant expressed current appreciation for pictures or expressed regret that they had not participated. Parents recommended that professionals strongly encourage parents to create memento photos despite parents’ initial reservations. Persistent cultural reasons against photography emerged in one case. Quotes by parents illuminate themes and enable respondents to speak directly to health care professionals.ConclusionsParents overwhelmingly support postmortem bereavement photography when conducted sensitively, even if imperfectly executed. Providers significantly influence parents during their crises; mindful, patient-centered care with appropriate respect for difference is necessary. Providers must understand the importance of postmortem photographs to parents who have limited opportunity to capture memories of their child. Hospitals should provide education and support for this important psychosocial intervention.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2050-7283-2-15) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Best practice in bereavement photography after perinatal death: qualitative analysis with 104 parents

Blood

Cacciatore

2014

BMC Psychol

Self Cite

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“…Although a survey by Foster, Dietrich, Friedman, Gordon and Gilmer (2012) demonstrated that 97% of paediatric hospitals in the United States offer memento making, with handprints, locks of hair and memory boxes being the most popular methods, the use of mementos in paediatric bereavement care has received little focus in the recent literature. Commonplace in perinatal death and bereavement care, staff often use memento making to help affirm an infant's existence and create lasting memories for the parents (Alexander, 2001;Blood & Cacciatore, 2014;Cacciatore, Erlandsson, & Rådestad, 2013;Tan, Docherty, Barfield, & Brandon, 2012). However, this concept does not appear prominent in the paediatric literature, especially for older children, where staff may wrongly assume that parents already have many physical reminders of the child and do not want hospital mementos.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parents' experiences of healthcare provider actions when their child dies: An integrative review of the literature

Butler

Hall

Willetts

et al. 2014

Specialist Pediatric Nursing

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“…Blood y Cacciatore 19 comentan que la utilización de la fotografía postmortem tiene un gran valor; perder la oportunidad de tomar una fotografía en el momento de crisis podría ser irremediable y una fuente de arrepentimiento. Estos mismos autores en otro artículo, concluyeron que entre más joven sea el infante, más dados van a estar los padres a esta práctica 23 .…”

Section: Prácticas De Soporteunclassified

Prácticas de atención a la familia en duelo ante la muerte del neonato en la unidad de cuidado intensivo neonatal

Bermúdez

2017

revmed

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Introducción: la muerte de un hijo es un proceso complejo y dramático; el equipo de salud describe dificultades para abordar esta situación. Objetivos: identificar en la literatura científica las principales prácticas de los profesionales en la atención de padres o familiares de un recién nacido que fallece en institución hospitalaria y determinar cuáles facilitan el desarrollo del duelo. Metodología de búsqueda: revisión integrativa de la literatura científica. 33 artículos superaron la evaluación de calidad metodológica y se incluyeron en la revisión. Resultados: se identificaron dos tipos de prácticas que los profesionales desarrollan con la familia en duelo: de soporte, por ejemplo facilitar el acercamiento al bebé fallecido y la fotografía postmortem; y de no soporte, por ejemplo la ausencia de consentimiento previo antes de que un grupo de estudiantes presencien un procedimiento específico o asumir actitudes hostiles hacia el paciente. Discusión: como reportan otros estudios, las prácticas de soporte tienen como base una comunicación veraz, adecuada y permanente entre el profesional y los familiares. Las prácticas de no soporte podrían relacionarse con el estrés de los profesionales, ante el fallecimiento de los pacientes y de las características propias de la formación médica. Conclusiones: los profesionales desarrollan diversas prácticas en el acompañamiento al familiar doliente, algunas de las cuales brindan un mejor desarrollo del duelo, como las prácticas de soporte. MÉD. UIS. 2017;30(3):89-100.

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Parental Grief and Memento Mori Photography: Narrative, Meaning, Culture, and Context

Cited by 50 publications

References 60 publications

Best practice in bereavement photography after perinatal death: qualitative analysis with 104 parents

Best practice in bereavement photography after perinatal death: qualitative analysis with 104 parents

Parents' experiences of healthcare provider actions when their child dies: An integrative review of the literature

Prácticas de atención a la familia en duelo ante la muerte del neonato en la unidad de cuidado intensivo neonatal

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