Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T06:32:20.539Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Maternal views of the management of foetal remains following early miscarriage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Catherine Jackman ,
Hannah McGee  and
Michael Turner
Catherine Jackman
Affiliation:
St. Fintan's Hospital, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Hannah McGee
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2
Michael Turner
Affiliation:
Coombe Lying-in Hospital, Dublin 8
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective: Recommendations for the sensitive management of perinatal and late pregnancy deaths are now widely applied. This study assessed management experiences and preferences of women who had an early miscarriage to ascertain if current practices are acceptable to these women. Method: Women who had experienced a first trimester miscarriage in the previous year and had attended hospital were identified from hospital and GP records. They were interviewed using a semi-structural format (N=27) and asked about their own experiences and opinions regarding viewing the foetus following miscarriage and making burial arrangements. Results: Most women did not see their miscarried foetus (85%) or know what burial arrangements had been made for the foetus (92%). Preferences regarding these issues were varied but all women felt that parents should be consulted. Conclusions: Recommendations on specific arrangements for the viewing of and disposal of remains following early miscarriage may be secondary to the provision of choice for the parents involved.

Keywords

MiscarriageMaternal views
Type
Clinical & Brief Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , June 1993 , pp. 93 - 94
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Nicol, MT, Tomkins, JR, Campbell, NA, Syme, GJ. Maternal grieving response after perinatal death. Med J Aust 1986; 144: 287–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Report of the RCOG working party on the management of perinatal deaths. London: RCOG, 1985.Google Scholar
3.Morris, D. Disposal arrangements for second trimester fetuses. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1988; 95: 545–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Brady, T, Magee, D, Bermingham, D, Prendergast, P, Keelan, D, Malone, JP. Stillbirth: the mother's view. Ir Med J 1984; 77: 133–9.Google ScholarPubMed
5.LaRoche, C, Laline-Michaud, M, Engelsmann, F, Fuller, N, Lapp, M, Vasilevsky, K. Grief reactions to perinatal death: an exploratory study. Psychosomatics 1982; 23: 510–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Jackman, C, McGee, HM, Turner, M. The experience and psychological impact of early miscarriage. Ir J Psychology 1991; 12: 108–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar