Midwives’ experience of delivery care in late foetal death: A qualitative study

Abstract

AimTo explore the experiences of midwives regarding the attention given during labour in late foetal death. DesignQualitative research using a hermeneutic-interpretative phenomenological approach was carried out. Data were collected through focus groups, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the van Manen approach. Setting and ParticipantsThree focus group with a purposive sample of 18 midwives from 10 public hospitals and 1 primary health centre in Madrid, Spain were conducted. FindingsTwo main themes were identified: Professionals for Life Not Death; and Organizing the Work Without Guidelines. Midwives felt there is a lack of social awareness related to the possibility of antepartum death that keeps the mourning hidden and affects the midwives´ practice during the late foetal death process. Midwives recognize difficulties in coping with a process that ends in death: organizations are not prepared for these events (not suitable rooms), there is lack of training to cope with them, and lack of continuity in the attention received by the parents when they are discharged. ConclusionMidwives need to be trained in mourning and communication skills to guarantee good practice when attending late foetal death. Intervention guidelines and support mechanisms are required, not only for the parents, but also for the healthcare professionals.