Communication
We're grateful for the dedicated individuals who have chosen to use their expertise to advance IPPE's mission, collectively striving to enhance perinatal health care.
We're grateful for the dedicated individuals who have chosen to use their expertise to advance IPPE's mission, collectively striving to enhance perinatal health care.
Stress and grief can impact how people absorb, retain, and respond to information. Given the amount and significance of the conversations that happen around perinatal loss, strong communication skills are essential for all health professionals who work with these families. Unfortunately, many families report negative experiences with health professionals, and most health professionals receive little to no training in having these discussions.
When giving bad news, it is important to provide privacy, support, and clear information. Sensitive language throughout the situation helps to support patient-centered care. This can include simple acts such as using the baby’s name, explaining medical terms, and avoiding medical jargon such as ‘products of conception’, ‘spontaneous abortion’, ‘fetus’, or ‘not compatible with life’. It is important to be honest about what is known and not known. Non-verbal communication is equally important during these conversations. This is especially true when there are language barriers.
It may be necessary to share important information multiple times. This allows the family time to process the details, or they may not hear and understand it well if it is only presented once. Providing information in both verbal and written materials can also help meet different learning styles. Communication between health professionals can minimize confusion and prevent the family from needing to repeat their story or being given contradictory information.
Families have shared many comments that are often helpful, and also those that are not helpful. It is appropriate to ask to hear their story, express your sympathy, validate their emotions, or reassure them that they didn’t cause their baby’s death. Platitudes and cliches are usually not helpful, as are any comments that minimize their emotions or try to find a positive in the situation.