Perinatal Loss and Grief Flashcards
7 cards from real PSI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Perinatal Loss and Grief flashcards as text
What is the recommended approach for a healthcare provider when a patient presents after a first-trimester miscarriage?
Answer: Offer emotional support, validate the loss, and assess for mental health symptoms
Best practice requires addressing both the physical and emotional dimensions of miscarriage, including validation of the loss and mental health screening.
Which statement best describes the grief experience of fathers and partners after perinatal loss?
Answer: Partners experience genuine grief but may express it differently and receive less social support
Partners grieve perinatal loss but often express it differently and receive substantially less social recognition and support for their grief than birthing parents.
In perinatal loss communities, what does the term 'rainbow baby' refer to?
Answer: A baby born after a prior pregnancy or infant loss
A 'rainbow baby' refers to a baby born after a pregnancy or infant loss, symbolizing hope following the 'storm' of grief.
During a perinatal loss support group, a parent expresses intense guilt about their miscarriage. What is the most therapeutic facilitator response?
Answer: Normalize guilt as a common grief response and explore the parent's feelings with empathy
Normalizing guilt as a common grief reaction and exploring feelings empathically follows best practices for perinatal loss support group facilitation.
When using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) after a perinatal loss, what is a critical interpretive consideration?
Answer: Elevated scores may reflect normal grief symptoms rather than, or in addition to, clinical depression
When interpreting EPDS results after perinatal loss, clinicians must consider that elevated scores may reflect grief rather than—or in addition to—clinical depression.
Which of the following is a recognized risk factor for more severe psychological distress following perinatal loss?
Answer: A previous personal history of depression or anxiety
Pre-existing depression or anxiety is a well-established risk factor for more severe and prolonged psychological distress following perinatal loss.
What does PSI recommend regarding memory-making opportunities after perinatal loss?
Answer: Support families who wish to create memories such as photos and mementos, as it can aid the grieving process
PSI supports individualized memory-making opportunities—such as photographs, handprints, and mementos—as potentially beneficial to grief processing, while always respecting each family's choices.