Page 149 - 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
P. 149
High deficits in treatment are also reflected in the emotional support of women‘s experiences with perinatal loss of a child 147
women. Skoberne (1997) states that, in general, the best assistance to parents at
that time is genuine contact, based on the compassion, understanding and re-
ceptivity of an individual, thus emphasizes:
„We should not be afraid to ask them what they feel and whether they
want to talk about their distress. Above all, let‘s listen to them. Even
our silent presence or touch can be encouraging enough to encourage
parents to express grief or help them regulate conflicting feelings they
are experiencing“ (Skoberne, 1991, p. 72).
Although the research has shown that the spiritual, religious or cultur-
al needs of women are not taken into account, it is necessary to think of what
the Globevnik Velikonja (1999; 2000) emphasizes that some ritual like baptis-
ing the child before death may mean a great deal for parents, so we have to al-
low them to do so.
In Slovenia, the Solzice Association has already changed many things in
the field of treatment after perinatal loss of a child. Training in Slovenian ma-
ternity hospitals should become a constant practice in order to make health-
care professionals better trained in dealing with women in case of perinatal
death. New findings based on researching perinatal child loss experiences are
so necessary, especially in relation to the Slovenian space Slovenian area.
Conclusions
Although the loss of a child in a perinatal period is more and more common,
this topic is still a major taboo. In Slovenia, this is a little researched area, and
further research are needed. It would also be interesting to compare the treat-
ment methods in Slovenian maternity hospitals with the aim of transferring
good practices. There is also a need for improvements in the educational pro-
grams themselves, which at this moment perhaps do not offer knowledge in a
way that would prepare future healthcare professionals for coping and prop-
er handling of such cases. It would be necessary to integrate and to cooperate
with associations helping grieving parents. This can be an important source
of information and awareness for healthcare professionals of what are needs
that grieving parents have at the time of a child loss. Informal forms of edu-
cation and lifelong learning as seminars, professional meetings are also wel-
come. At the same time, personal involvement and responsibility of each in-
dividual healthcare professional is also necessary. Healthcare professionals are
the first who have an opportunity to create a memory of a lost child, thus ena-
bling a woman and her family to mourn through the mourning process. There-
fore, women who have lost a child in a perinatal period should be listened and
helped in a personalized and individualized way.
women. Skoberne (1997) states that, in general, the best assistance to parents at
that time is genuine contact, based on the compassion, understanding and re-
ceptivity of an individual, thus emphasizes:
„We should not be afraid to ask them what they feel and whether they
want to talk about their distress. Above all, let‘s listen to them. Even
our silent presence or touch can be encouraging enough to encourage
parents to express grief or help them regulate conflicting feelings they
are experiencing“ (Skoberne, 1991, p. 72).
Although the research has shown that the spiritual, religious or cultur-
al needs of women are not taken into account, it is necessary to think of what
the Globevnik Velikonja (1999; 2000) emphasizes that some ritual like baptis-
ing the child before death may mean a great deal for parents, so we have to al-
low them to do so.
In Slovenia, the Solzice Association has already changed many things in
the field of treatment after perinatal loss of a child. Training in Slovenian ma-
ternity hospitals should become a constant practice in order to make health-
care professionals better trained in dealing with women in case of perinatal
death. New findings based on researching perinatal child loss experiences are
so necessary, especially in relation to the Slovenian space Slovenian area.
Conclusions
Although the loss of a child in a perinatal period is more and more common,
this topic is still a major taboo. In Slovenia, this is a little researched area, and
further research are needed. It would also be interesting to compare the treat-
ment methods in Slovenian maternity hospitals with the aim of transferring
good practices. There is also a need for improvements in the educational pro-
grams themselves, which at this moment perhaps do not offer knowledge in a
way that would prepare future healthcare professionals for coping and prop-
er handling of such cases. It would be necessary to integrate and to cooperate
with associations helping grieving parents. This can be an important source
of information and awareness for healthcare professionals of what are needs
that grieving parents have at the time of a child loss. Informal forms of edu-
cation and lifelong learning as seminars, professional meetings are also wel-
come. At the same time, personal involvement and responsibility of each in-
dividual healthcare professional is also necessary. Healthcare professionals are
the first who have an opportunity to create a memory of a lost child, thus ena-
bling a woman and her family to mourn through the mourning process. There-
fore, women who have lost a child in a perinatal period should be listened and
helped in a personalized and individualized way.
