Page 147 - Petelin, Ana, Nejc Šarabon, Boštjan Žvanut, eds. 2017. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije ▪︎ Health of the Working-Age Population. Proceedings. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
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The results of the research showed that the healthcare professionals were women‘s experiences with perinatal loss of a child 145
relatively respectful in relation to women, since they largely ensured intima-
cy of the moment (68%), took into account the needs for respectful, discern-
ing and empathic communication and respected the feelings of women (76%),
met the need for ‚being listened to‘ at least sometimes (78%) and for psycho-
logical assistance (50%), providing information related to child‘s death (50%).
In a large proportion (97%), professionals also respected the decisions of the
mothers (e.g., about the way of treatment, the place of burial), but in many cas-
es (58%), mothers were also required to make decisions immediately after their
birth (e.g., about the name of the child, the manner of burial etc.).
The need for information was largely neglected: information about treat-
ment after discharge from hospital (31%), about possible consequences requir-
ing immediate action (28%), and written information was not provided (42%).
In the area of emotional support for women, there were bigger deficits in
the respondents‘ responses. The professionals did not meet the needs and ful-
filled the wishes of women‘s own choice of the department where they would be
accommodated (86%). Most (54%) were not able to spend the first night in the
hospital with a partner, as well as not to coexist with him throughout the hos-
pitalization (61%). They also did not have the opportunity to say goodbye to the
deceased child after 12 hours (82%). In most cases, they were not encouraged to
choose the child‘s name (80%), or to see the dead child (57%), to cradle it (56%),
or to collect memories of the child (53%). The lack of emotional support also
shows the answers about receiving attention by healthcare professionals always
or sometimes (78%), yet in most cases (73%) they felt alone with their own pain.
Comforting touches and time from healthcare professionals received slightly
more than half women (56%).
In meeting the spiritual, religious and cultural needs about the method
of childbirth, care or burial, 54% women did not have specific desires, howev-
er in 24% answers showed that treatment of this area has not been respected.
Many of them also received inappropriate ‚comforting‘ comments from pro-
fessionals related to the youngness of women and to the possibility of subse-
quent pregnancy or to already pre-existing children. According to the majori-
ty of respondents (78%), these comments were well-intentioned, but completely
unnecessary.
Discussion
This research shows that in the future more attention should be paid to the
needs and desires of women who lost their child in the perinatal period. Many
deficits in treatment have been shown in the consideration of women‘s wishes
and needs, as well as in informing, in showing compassion and emotional sup-
port, and in the sphere of spiritual, religious and cultural needs of women. Ac-
cording to Cehner et al. (2005), healthcare professionals should be more aware
relatively respectful in relation to women, since they largely ensured intima-
cy of the moment (68%), took into account the needs for respectful, discern-
ing and empathic communication and respected the feelings of women (76%),
met the need for ‚being listened to‘ at least sometimes (78%) and for psycho-
logical assistance (50%), providing information related to child‘s death (50%).
In a large proportion (97%), professionals also respected the decisions of the
mothers (e.g., about the way of treatment, the place of burial), but in many cas-
es (58%), mothers were also required to make decisions immediately after their
birth (e.g., about the name of the child, the manner of burial etc.).
The need for information was largely neglected: information about treat-
ment after discharge from hospital (31%), about possible consequences requir-
ing immediate action (28%), and written information was not provided (42%).
In the area of emotional support for women, there were bigger deficits in
the respondents‘ responses. The professionals did not meet the needs and ful-
filled the wishes of women‘s own choice of the department where they would be
accommodated (86%). Most (54%) were not able to spend the first night in the
hospital with a partner, as well as not to coexist with him throughout the hos-
pitalization (61%). They also did not have the opportunity to say goodbye to the
deceased child after 12 hours (82%). In most cases, they were not encouraged to
choose the child‘s name (80%), or to see the dead child (57%), to cradle it (56%),
or to collect memories of the child (53%). The lack of emotional support also
shows the answers about receiving attention by healthcare professionals always
or sometimes (78%), yet in most cases (73%) they felt alone with their own pain.
Comforting touches and time from healthcare professionals received slightly
more than half women (56%).
In meeting the spiritual, religious and cultural needs about the method
of childbirth, care or burial, 54% women did not have specific desires, howev-
er in 24% answers showed that treatment of this area has not been respected.
Many of them also received inappropriate ‚comforting‘ comments from pro-
fessionals related to the youngness of women and to the possibility of subse-
quent pregnancy or to already pre-existing children. According to the majori-
ty of respondents (78%), these comments were well-intentioned, but completely
unnecessary.
Discussion
This research shows that in the future more attention should be paid to the
needs and desires of women who lost their child in the perinatal period. Many
deficits in treatment have been shown in the consideration of women‘s wishes
and needs, as well as in informing, in showing compassion and emotional sup-
port, and in the sphere of spiritual, religious and cultural needs of women. Ac-
cording to Cehner et al. (2005), healthcare professionals should be more aware
