A Randomized Trial of a Bereavement Intervention for Pregnancy Loss.

Objective: To examine the effects of a secondary bereavement intervention on grieving in women who experienced a miscarriage (pregnancy loss) at 12-20 weeks gestation.

Design: Experimental, posttest only, control group design.

Setting: Obstetric emergency center of a county hospital in a large city.

Proof of life: a protocol for pregnant women who experience pre-20-week perinatal loss.

One in 6 pregnancies is lost before the 20th week of gestation and the psychological impacts of this loss are frequently unaddressed while attention is focused on immediate physiological needs. To improve the comprehensive care provided to women experiencing pre-20-week loss, an evidence-based intervention protocol was developed to provide emotional support to these women in the immediate aftermath of the loss. The protocol was tested using a sample of 40 women who experienced a pre-20-week perinatal loss and were being treated in a large county emergency center.