Perinatal bereavement rooms: a narrative review of physical space in perinatal grief.

Abstract

Background: Perinatal loss is a profoundly complex form of grief, often linked to heightened risk of prolonged bereavement and adverse mental health outcomes. Perinatal grief rooms-private, supportive spaces within healthcare settings-aim to help families process their loss, spend time with their baby, and create meaningful memories in a respectful environment. While bereavement care has received growing attention, the role of the physical environment in supporting grief remains underexplored.

Objective: To synthesize current evidence on how dedicated physical spaces can support individuals and families after perinatal loss, and to identify priorities for research, design standards, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Methods: A narrative review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Literature searches were performed across PubMed, PsycINFO, Medline (OVID), Embase, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, SciELO, and Google Scholar using terms, such as "perinatal grief rooms", "bereavement rooms", "angel suites", "butterfly suites", "snowdrop suites", "cloud rooms", "designated units for perinatal loss", and "birthing + bereavement suites". The review examined (1) the current role of physical spaces in the perinatal loss experience, and (2) how their availability and design may influence grief outcomes.

Results: Of the 17 articles meeting inclusion criteria, only 4 (24%) referenced bereavement rooms, and just 3 (18%) noted the need for formal protocols-without offering concrete examples. No studies evaluated implementation, design standards, or measurable impact on grief, mental health, or family well-being. This lack of empirical evidence and standardized guidance underscores a critical gap that limits integration of therapeutic environments into perinatal bereavement care.

Conclusion: Despite increasing recognition of the importance of bereavement care, dedicated grief rooms remain under-researched and inconsistently implemented. Advancing this field will require rigorously designed studies, development of design standards, and collaborative partnerships among healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers, and design experts to ensure equitable access to therapeutic spaces for grieving families.