Doctors need more support to deal with stillbirths

Doctors endure a maelstrom of emotion such as fear, remorse, sadness, loss, discomfort and anger after delivering a stillborn baby, according to the first research study into the impact of stillbirth on consultant obstetricians.

Indeed, dealing with the impact of a stillbirth is one of the most difficult parts of their job, according to the study just published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The research, conducted by Dr Daniel Nuzum and Dr Keelin O’Donoghue, chaplain and consultant obstetrician respectively at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), found every consultant interviewed displayed “a high level of awareness” about the devastating impact of stillbirth and perinatal bereavement on parents.