New national survey to ask women about their experiences of bereavement care following the loss of a baby

The National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey — the first ever survey of maternity bereavement care in Ireland —is underway. 

This online survey asks women and their partners about the bereavement care they received in an Irish maternity hospital or unit following a pregnancy loss or perinatal death. The aim of the survey is to learn from the experiences of bereaved parents to find out what is working well, and what could be improved. 

Women and their partners who experienced a second trimester miscarriage, the stillbirth of a baby or the early neonatal death of a baby in one of Ireland’s 19 maternity units or hospitals between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2021 can complete the survey here.  

The survey contains 99 questions on topics such as communication, labour and birth, postnatal care, bereavement care, discharge and follow-up care. A number of free-text questions provide women and their partners with the opportunity to provide additional information and feedback on their personal experiences in hospital.

To find out more about the National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey, visit www.yourexperience.ie and follow us on social: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.