Coping strategies in women subsequent to a perinatal loss

Perinatal loss is a tragic event in a woman\u27s life and is a time filled with much aguish and · grief. The care a women and her family receive during a perinatal loss experience can have an incredible impact on future subsequent pregnancies. Subsequent pregnancies have shown to be filled with apprehension and anxiety that can potentially lead to complications such as preterm labor or another loss. Depressive symptoms and decreased prenatal attachment are additional factors that play a role in the experience of a subsequent pregnancy. The purpose of this thesis was to complete a comprehensive review of research studies concerning the experiences of women and subsequent pregnancies after suffering a perinatal loss and develop strategies that can be used to promote effective coping in this population. A review of the literature was conducted using Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature Plus with Full Text, PubMed, and Medline databases. Results found higher pregnancy anxiety, more depressive symptoms, and decreased prenatal attachment in couples with a history of perinatal loss, a lack of bereavement education for nurses and midwives, and emphasized the need for support for both families and health care providers. Coping strategies for women and their families were identified and specific nursing implications for practice were established in order to facilitate coping in women and families