Managing Complications in Pregnancy and Childbirth: - IAWG

Emotional and psychological supportC-9• Repeat information several times and give written information, ifpossible. People experiencing an emergency will not remembermuch of what is said to them.• Health care providers may feel anger, guilt, sorrow, pain andfrustration in the face of obstetric emergencies that may lead themto avoid the woman/family. Showing emotion is not a weakness.• Remember to care for staff who themselves may experience guilt,grief, confusion and other emotions.MATERNAL MORTALITY AND MORBIDITYMATERNAL MORTALITYDeath of a woman in childbirth or from pregnancy-related events is adevastating experience for the family and for surviving children. Inaddition to the principles listed above, remember the following:AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT• Provide psychological care as long as the woman is awake or evenvaguely aware of what is or might be happening to her.• If death is inevitable, provide emotional and spiritual comfort ratherthan focusing on the emergency (now futile) medical care.• Provide dignity and respectful treatment at all times, even if thewoman is unconscious or has already died.AFTER THE EVENT• Allow the woman’s partner or family to be with her.• Facilitate the family’s arrangements for the funeral, if possible, andsee that they have all the necessary documents.• Explain what happened and answer any questions. Offer theopportunity for the family to return to ask additional questions.SEVERE MATERNAL MORBIDITYChildbirth sometimes leaves a woman with severe physical orpsychological damage.