TABLE 3:
Communicating with parents following perinatal death
| What to say and do | What NOT to say or do |
|---|---|
| Use simple and straightforward language | Do not say: |
| Be comfortable showing emotions | “It’s best this way” |
| Listen to the parents and touch the baby | “It could be worse” |
| “I’m sorry” | “You can have more children” |
| “I wish things would have ended differently” | “Time will heal” |
| “I don’t know what to say” | “It’s good your baby died before you got to know him or her well” |
| “I feel sad” or “I am sad for you” | Do not use medical jargon |
| “Do you have any questions?” | Do not argue with parents |
| “We can talk again later” | Do not avoid questions |
| Answer questions honestly |
Data from reference 34