Bereavement in Obstetrics is More Common Than You Might Think

Bereavement in obstetrics is a lot more common than some might think, unfortunately. There is a taboo around the topic, and a lot of people don’t like to discuss miscarriages or stillbirths as it makes others uncomfortable. The sad fact is that it can be very helpful to discuss any kind of bereavement with a friend or family member, and can help process grief.

Bereavement in Obstetrics & Media

We see bereavement in obstetrics in films and television. Why can’t we talk about it? Film and television are very good for portraying the subject and the pain that comes with it, and can help people to understand. There are lots of different films and television series that explore the issue. One example would be Boardwalk Empire. The first that we see of miscarriage is a woman being admitted to hospital bleeding. It is shocking to the characters who are touring the hospital and the woman is ushered away as if it is shameful. Later on, the main character called Margaret Thompson works hard to set up educational women’s health classes, much to the disappointment of the nuns that run the hospital. This is a great portrayal of the stigma around baby-loss at the time. Although it is not quite as bad now, some of the stigmas still linger.

What can we do about the stigma?

The best thing that anybody could do to help the stigma and increase support around bereavement in obstetrics is to talk about their experiences. It will, over time, highlight that this can happen to anybody at any point in their life, and it never gets easier. The support for miscarriage and still-birth needs to be at the same level as any other bereavement, as people do still go through stages of grief.