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Death of one twin during the perinatal period: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Parents with a diagnosis of fetal anomaly in twin pregnancies were not prepared for the complications they experienced in pregnancy. Clear and appropriate information in relation to perinatal palliative care should be provided to parents.

Authors

Sarah Meaney, Keelin O'Donoghue

Year
2017
Journal Name
Journal of Palliative Medicine
Category
Journal Article
Keywords
Multiple pregnancy, Neonatal death, Stillbirth
Project

Causes and consequences of pregnancy loss and perinatal death

Full Citation

Meaney S, Corcoran P, O'Donoghue K. Death of one twin during the perinatal period: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2017;20(3):290-293. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2016.0264.

Link to Publication
https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2016.0264

Abstract

Perinatal death is the death of a baby between 24?weeks of pregnancy (or weighing 500?g) and seven days after birth (a stillbirth or neonatal death). Twin pregnancy (pregnancy with two babies) is associated with a higher risk of perinatal death than a singleton pregnancy (pregnancy with one baby). We spoke with nine parents who had experienced the death of one twin during the perinatal period in a twin pregnancy, all of whom had a prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomaly. Parents spoke about how distressed they were when initially informed that there was a problem. On diagnosis, parents began a complex palliative journey, proceeding in the pregnancy and grieving one baby while trying to ensure the welfare of the co-twin. As parents were encouraged to focus on the “normal” twin, they felt their opportunity to grieve was reduced. It was important that the surviving twin would be identified as a twin and know of their sibling, but parents carried feelings of deep sadness, because this was also a reminder that one twin would always be missing. Clear and appropriate information in relation to perinatal palliative care should be provided to parents in twin pregnancies diagnosed with a fetal anomaly.

Pregnancy Loss Research Group

Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University College Cork, Fifth Floor, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Wilton, Cork, T12 YE02, Ireland,

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