LONG-TERM IMPACT OF PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT - COMPARISON OF GRIEF REACTIONS AFTER INTRAUTERINE VERSUS NEONATAL DEATH

Objective: To investigate possible differences in emotional impact on parents following either a deliberate intrauterine death or a neonatal death in extremely preterm growth retarded infants. Design: Retrospec tively matched study by audiotaped semi-structured interview, 3-9 year s after the perinatal loss. Results: Nineteen couples (ten in the intr auterine death group and nine in the neonatal death group) consented t o participate. More than 50% of the intrauterine death group couples c ould not share or discuss their emotions. Most partners in this group did not feel the loss of their own child. Discongruent grieving betwee n partners was more pronounced in the intrauterine death group and cou ld be identified as a risk factor for prolonged and abnormal grief rea ctions. Four couples (three in the intrauterine death group and one in the neonatal death group) developed long-term emotional disturbance a nd psychosocial problems. Long-term follow-up in both groups was faili ng remarkably. Conclusion: Assimilating a non-intervention policy foll owed by fetal death requires different skills and is more complicated than grief support around an early neonatal death. Follow-up is essent ial to identify the couple 'at risk' and to mobilize extra support. (C ) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.