Neonatal death: supporting bereaved mothers

Background Death of a child is a devastating experience for parents, owing to which parents may show dissatisfaction towards medical care or suffer from intense and prolonged grief. The objective of the present study was to explore the needs of bereaved mothers after the death of their infant. Methods The present study was a descriptive qualitative design that consisted of 10 mothers who have been bereaved in the past year. All mothers were recruited from the registry. Data were obtained through an unstructured single interview and analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results The current study demonstrated that parents had the same needs despite their different backgrounds, socioeconomic standards, and religious beliefs. Their needs were based on several main points; 1) Lack of sensitivity/method in delivering the news, 2) Bonding with the child; 3) Safety and family support; 4) Providing understanding and meaning; 5) Ability to express emotions. Conclusions The key components that should be considered to support the bereaved parents include honesty, information, choices, and timing. The present study provided a comprehensive view of the overall experiences of the parents with neonatal death and the ability to give guidance to the healthcare providers.