Perinatal mortality: assisting parental affirmation.

The health professional's role does not cease with perinatal death, but shifts towards the prevention of postmortem psychiatric sequelae in the parents. A multidisciplinary bereavement service has found that an increased awareness of the final processes of "viewing" and "burial" diminishes the production of fearful speculations both by parents and staff, and allows them to cooperate more fully in dealing with the tragedy.