Support for Parents who Experience the Loss of a Newborn Child: A Literature Review

Abstract

Objectives: research and discuss publications on support for grieving parents who have lost a newborn child. Materials and method: The CINAHL, Embassy, PubMed, PsycINFO and Scopus databases were searched for a critical review of literature. The focus was on articles published between January 2010 and July 2017. The collected data were subject to a thematic analysis. Results: Three thematic categories were created: 1) support and assistance for parents who experience the loss of a newborn child; 2) the feelings of parents in situations involving death and grief; and 3) participation of the parents in their child’s treatment and prognosis. Several needs were highlighted; namely, better preparation on the part of medical professionals, adequate communication, formation of a memory of the newborn, the parental bond in the process of death. Conclusions: Cultural diversity is evident in the mourning experience and should be taken into account when caring for the mourner. The continuity of the bond with family members after the death / dying process involving a newborn can help to prevent disorders during grief. Reflecting on guidelines, policies and expanded curricular training can make a difference for the health team in terms of assistance during grief and also when it comes to mental health.