title: Grief in the perinatal period.
abstract: The loss or threatened loss of an infant in the perinatal period is a tragic event. The practitioner often feels helpless in trying to ease the family's grief. Based on crisis intervention and grief theory, a protocol is suggested for preparing families and presenting them with the tragic news concerning their baby. Suggested interventions for the couple at the time of delivery and a discussion of the needs of other family members are presented. Preparing the family for discharge from the hospital and follow-up are also discussed.
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis