Module Code - Title:
NS6122
-
PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT AND LOSS
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
The aim of this module is to facilitate midwives and other health care professionals to work more effectively with bereaved parents and their families experiencing perinatal loss. The quality of perinatal bereavement care delivered during the parents grieving journey can have long-lasting consequences. It may have a significant impact in shaping their healing process and may directly influence how they cope following their baby's death. The module is designed to facilitate all health care professionals to work more effectively with bereaved parents and their families (National Standards for Bereavement Care Following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death 2016) and to explore the evolving healthcare environment in providing a caring, person centred approach in leading and managing practice development.
Syllabus:
The module provides midwives and health care professionals with a comprehensive understanding of perinatal bereavement and care. Scope of perinatal grief and various theories of grief. Critical exploration of effective compassionate care following pregnancy loss and perinatal death and loss associated with infertility. Appraisal of compassionate and evidence based perinatal bereavement care for parents. Professional skills development to work more effectively with bereaved families. Insight into the parents grieving journey and consequences, both positive and negative. Factors that significantly impact on shaping their healing process. Support for families considering subsequent pregnancy after a perinatal loss. Perinatal death and its effects on health care professionals and the importance of adequate support. Exploration of evidence based perinatal palliative care.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
At the end of this module, students will be able to:
Develop specific communication skills in relation to perinatal bereavement and loss to create a shared compassionate space with bereaved parents and families including the skills of breaking bad news.
Critically discuss the scope of perinatal grief and various theories of grief.
Critically evaluate the mechanisms in place which support families in coping with pregnancy loss and perinatal death including: miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death and babies with life limiting conditions requiring perinatal palliative care.
Critically explore the impact of fostering effective compassionate relational care with bereaved parents, their families, colleagues and health care teams.
Critically explore the supports for families considering subsequent pregnancy after a perinatal loss.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
At the end of this module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate an appreciation of the need for effective support mechanisms to build staff resilience in their role as facilitators of compassionate bereavement support.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
Participate in the learning environment through engagement in teaching and learning strategies e.g. lectures, discussions, group work, self-directed learning, recommended reading, reflection, use of online learning and enquiry/problem based learning. The module is based on current best practice guidelines for research in the area of nursing/midwifery incorporating relevant national and international health policy. The module is based on current best practice guidelines for Bereavement and Perinatal loss and research in the area incorporating relevant national and international health policy.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Hindmarch, C. (2009)
On the Death of a Child.
, Radcliffe Publishing, Oxford.
Redshaw M, Rowe R, Henderson J. (2014)
Listening to Parents after stillbirth or the death of their baby after birth.
, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Oxford.
O'Leary, J, Warland, J. (2016)
Meeting the Needs of Parents Pregnant and Parenting After Perinatal Loss
, Routledge, London.
Borg Xuereb, R, Jomeen, J
(2022)
Perspectives on Midwifery and Parenthood
, Springer Cham, Switzerland.
Chambers C, Ryder E. (2017)
Supporting compassionate healthcare practice
, Routledge, London.
Other Relevant Texts:
Department of Health. (2016)
Creating a better future together National Maternity Strategy 2016-2016.
, Department of Health, Dublin.
Karst, P (2020)
The Invisible String
, De Vorss. CA.
Papadatou, D. (2009)
In the Face of Death: Professionals Who Care for the Dying and the Bereaved.
, Springer, New York.
Seng, J and Taylor, J. (2015)
Trauma Informed Care in the Perinatal period
, Dunedin Academic Press, London
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
MSNUNGTFA - NURSING
MSPMHETFA - PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Spring
Module Leader:
maria.noonan@ul.ie