Role of the midwife in perinatal mourning in the current context of a pandemic. Clinical case

Abstract

In 2019, the late fetal mortality rate in Spain was 3.11 deaths per thousand births. The outcome of perinatal and/or neonatal death is a devastating experience for both the mother and the family, thus, providing high quality bereavement care has been shown to reduce emotional, psychological and social negative effects for parents. Many healthcare professionals find it difficult to handle these situations. In addition, the current SARS-CoV-2 social health crisis further complicates the quality of care that could be provided in these situations. With the presentation of this clinical case we want to highlight the important role of the midwife in the care of perinatal grief in the context of the pandemic situation. The data collected in physical examinations and assessments are presented according to the Virginia Henderson model, and a complete care plan is developed. It is important to create strategies with an interdisciplinary team to facilitate coping with grief. Interventions related to memory creation emerge as important elements in parents' experiences, so we should give them greater emphasis. Quality health care must be achieved to help solve the grieving process, and midwives must be one of the reference professionals for this. Finally, more research studies are considered necessary, taking into account which has been mentioned before and continuing with the development and implementation of guidelines in Spanish hospitals.