The perinatal bereavement of a twin: Support from pregnancy until telling the surviving twin

Abstract

This article aims to provide practical recommendations of support during the perinatal bereavement of a twin based on both clinical practice and scientific literature. This loss is experienced by the parents as a challenging moment, with a risk of developing mental disorders. It seems essential to give concrete elements of the accompaniment of the parents by health and mental health professionals. We discuss antenatal bereavement, how to deal with the ambivalence felt by the parents (between the work of mourning for the deceased twin and the bonding to the surviving twin), the inclusion of the family and the partner in the work of bereavement, and practical implementations within the hospital. Training health professionals to intervene early will reduce the psychopathological risk in both the parents and the surviving twin.