Supporting parents through pregnancy loss with compassion and consistency
Supporting parents through pregnancy loss with compassion and consistency
Pregnancy loss and perinatal death are among the most devastating experiences a family can face. At such a time, parents need not only empathy, but clear, consistent support. Yet historically, the care families received in Ireland varied widely depending on where and how their baby died, adding uncertainty and distress to an already painful experience.
INFANT Principal Investigator Professor Keelin O’Donoghue, alongside colleagues in the Pregnancy Loss Research Group, led the development of the HSE National Standards for Bereavement Care Following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death in response to this gap.
Developed following recommendations from the 2013 investigation into the death of Savita Halappanavar, the standards were designed to ensure that every parent, regardless of where they receive care, is met with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Launched nationally in 2016 after an extensive multidisciplinary development process, the standards provide a clear, evidence-based framework for maternity services. They support parents experiencing all forms of pregnancy loss, from early miscarriage to stillbirth, neonatal death, and life-limiting fetal diagnoses.
Designed as a resource for both healthcare professionals and parents, the standards guide every aspect of care. This includes how difficult news is communicated, how parents are supported in decision-making, opportunities for memory-making, and the provision of follow-up and longer-term bereavement support. They also recognise the emotional impact on healthcare staff and emphasise the importance of structured supports for those delivering care.
Researchers from the Pregnancy Loss Research Group have remained central to this work beyond development. They have helped drive national implementation across all maternity units in Ireland, contributing to training, audits, education programmes, and the creation of resources such as the national pregnancy and infant loss website. Their research has directly shaped key areas including communication, staff support, care after stillbirth, pregnancy after loss, and support following diagnoses of life-limiting fetal conditions.
By embedding compassion into national practice, these standards have transformed bereavement care in Ireland. Parents are now more likely to receive consistent, sensitive support at every stage of their journey, while healthcare professionals are better equipped to respond to both the immediate and long-term needs of bereaved families.
This work continues to evolve, with ongoing research and national oversight ensuring that care keeps improving. At its core is a simple but vital goal: that no parent faces pregnancy loss without the understanding, support, and dignity they deserve.
