Bereavement in Obstetrics

Jenny gives her account of the awful experience she found it to be and the long-term consequences on her mental health. We advise that this short introduction can be used as scene setting during a lecture.

Another couple (Loss before Life) describe an early miscarriage and the lack of support that made it very difficult for them. The follow-up interview provides us with the opportunity to hear their reflections on the matter 5 years later. This is a good, upbeat, but realistic note to conclude a lecture. Here we see liaison psychiatry in action. Grief, in itself is not a mental illness, but handled badly, these situations can lead to maladaptive coping strategies, with long-term costs to relationships and health. Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder can follow on.