Enhancing Perinatal Health and Addressing Loss
Explore how IPPE is transforming care to improve outcomes and support families during perinatal health challenges.
Understanding the Impact of Perinatal Loss
Perinatal health is an indicator of overall health and the status of health systems as it has a significant impact on the well-being of babies, mothers, and families across the lifespan.
Recent programs have raised awareness about how often pregnancies end tragically, primarily with the death of the baby or mother. While many questions remain about how to prevent some of these deaths, international initiatives are providing critical information about how healthcare providers and systems can improve the experience and outcomes for families during and after pregnancy.
Perinatal loss, defined by the International Partnership for Perinatal Excellence as the death of a baby during pregnancy or infancy, is a heartbreaking event for millions of families every year. In the United States, it is estimated that one in four women will experience a perinatal loss during their lifetime. It is challenging to know the true impact due to the lack of data collection and stigma that surrounds different types of loss. These losses also have a detrimental impact on health professionals and teams and have been cited as a contributor to work-related stress and burnout among maternal/child health professionals.
Addressing Perinatal Loss
Educational Gaps
Most health professional training programs do not have curriculum dedicated to preventing these losses and caring for bereaved families. In fact, many providers report that they are generally taught that most perinatal losses are not preventable.
Knowledge and Comfort
Studies have shown that there are knowledge gaps among health professionals about causes and prevention opportunities and health professionals are often uncomfortable addressing these issues with patients.
Fostering Excellence in Perinatal Health Care
Empowering Health Professionals
One of the goals of the International Partnership for Perinatal Excellence (IPPE) is to provide health professionals with the information and tools they need to provide optimal perinatal health care to families, focusing on prevention and care of perinatal loss. The resources draw from the latest research, results from international initiatives, multidisciplinary perspectives, and principles such as shared-decision making, family-centered care, trauma-informed care, social determinants of health, and culturally-sensitive care.
Members of IPPE will:
- Be leaders in their community and champions for their patients
- Seek continuing education around perinatal loss prevention and care
- Incorporate IPPE concepts into their work
- Discuss risk factors for perinatal loss with patients and colleagues
- Identify families at risk and develop a plan to address these concerns
IPPE Certification Path
Certification by IPPE affirms a dedication to excellence across several critical aspects of perinatal care. Initial certification requires understanding of the following concepts:
Prevention
- Preconception Care
- Fetal Growth Restriction
- Fetal Movements
- Maternal Sleep Position
Loss
- Communication
- Bereavement Care
- Clinical Care
- Pathology
Pregnancy After Loss
- Clinical Care
- Psychosocial Care