Perinatal bereavement

Perinatal bereavement or perinatal grief refers to the emotions of the family following a perinatal death, defined as the demise of a fetus (after 20 weeks gestation) or newborn infant (up to 30 days after birth). Despite the not-uncommon circumstance of miscarriage and pregnancy loss, and the recognized subsequent psychological impact, including potentially complicated grief, "very little research exists documenting the efficacy of different interventions."

Psychiatrists may assess a patient experiencing perinatal bereavement using a testing instrument called the Perinatal Bereavement Grief Scale.