Neonatal Death: A Grief Intervention Framework

Abstract

The death of a neonate is an extremely heartbreaking loss that can result in overwhelming and overpowering grief responses. Because of the intensity of the grief reactions these parents experience it is absolutely imperative that social workers intervene appropriately with families whose baby has died. This article will review grief intervention and the application of this approach. Five grief intervention models will be discussed including Lindemann's (1944) stages of grief work, Bowlby's (1980) three phases of mourning, Rando's (1988) three phases of grief, Worden (2001) tasks of grief work and White's (1988) “saying hullo metaphor.” A case example will be used to describe the application of Worden's (2001) task model with a family whose twin babies have died on the NICU. Lastly, how this review and use of grief intervention models impacts social work practice on a NICU setting will be discussed. Ultimately, social workers should intervene according to the needs presented by these families or otherwise clinicians risk inflicting further pain and suffering on parents already experiencing the extreme anguish of grief.