
The literature review shows occupational therapy's role in bereavement care after perinatal loss, using occupation to support performance and family well-being, while calling for theory development and standardized, client-centered care.
Identify and implement evidence-based occupational practices to support meaningful daily activities for families and siblings; develop self-reflection tools and resource sheets, and bridge research and practice for client-centered care.
Explore how grief affects occupational transitions after pregnancy and infant loss, and learn to advocate workplace support through occupational therapy resources and return-to-work guides.
Develop a handout with strategies and activities to support well-being and occupational performance for grieving families, including those affected by pregnancy and infant loss, during holidays and special occasions.
Perinatal loss affects about 1 in 10 women; Hanisch's study shows occupation-based retreats improve mental health, and Dada 2019 notes occupation as means and ends; therapists advocate and develop assessments.
Welcome to this course! Are you in the occupational therapy or health care field and looking to support families navigating pregnancy and infant loss and to expand the care and resources available?
To promote increased and improved bereavement support and resources following pregnancy and infant loss, this course provides education on pregnancy and infant loss, its impact on daily occupations and current gaps in support provided to families navigating pregnancy and infant loss. Along with this, this course will cover the crucial role occupational therapy has in bereavement care, evidence-based and occupation-based intervention strategies, and areas of growth for occupational therapy services in bereavement care for families navigating pregnancy and infant loss. Some specific areas mentioned include, the workplace, times of special occasions, advocacy opportunities, and data gathering to further support evidence-based practices and assessments.
This course includes lectures, resources and follow up questions to assess your knowledge. Whether you are a practicing clinician, student, or a healthcare professional, this course is designed to add to your resource toolbox, and increase your confidence and competence in providing compassionate, holistic care to families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss.
Enjoy the course and feel free to message with any questions or discussion interests!