Stillbirth Investigations & Bereavement Care
Free
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What you will learn
Welcome to the Stillbirth Autopsy, Investigations and Bereavement Care course. This course will focus on the woman, her partner and their families experiencing a stillbirth, autopsy and investigations discussions and trauma-informed care. The course has a strong Person and Family-Centred Care approach to learning. The course has two sections:
Section 1
The first section is focused on building your capacity, capability and confidence in autopsy and investigations, stillbirth, shared decision-making and the communication that best supports trauma-informed care (as part of bereavement care).
Section 2
The second section is focused on application of information/education provided in Section 1. There are five touchstones where women share their lived experiences with perinatal loss, autopsy and investigations, and bereavement care. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate and expand on your skills, knowledge, and attitude in relation to discussing stillbirth investigations and associated bereavement care through interactive activities. The final learning activity explores termination of pregnancy for medical reasons and postpartum care pathways.
Key themes throughout the course
The five main themes utilised in this course are based on current best practice, recent literature and other analyses as detailed above. These are:
- Stillbirth and subsequent investigations – Stillbirth Investigation Algorithm (including application of clinical examination of the baby checklist)
- Autopsy – process, consent, and timing
- Trauma-informed care, communication, and shared decision-making
- Culturally appropriate care
- Postpartum and subsequent pregnancy care
Pre-requisite
Participants in this course need to be a healthcare professional (HCP) such as Aboriginal Maternal Infant Care (AMIC) practitioner or student, midwifery student, registered midwife (RM), registered general nurse (RGN) or medical student or medical officer registered with AHPRA.
Intended outcome of learning
Upon completion of this training, we anticipate you will develop, consolidate, and expand on your current capacity (knowledge), capability (skill) and confidence (attitude) in relation to the investigations of stillbirth, autopsy and caring and counselling for women and their families in this traumatic time.
Course objectives
The participant will:
- apply the Stillbirth Investigations, Histopathology Management of the Placenta and Perinatal Loss PPGs to identify appropriate investigations, correct paperwork and processes with the mortuary and funeral homes
- provide effective and appropriate bereavement care and shared decision-making using a trauma-informed care approach and the 10 principles of bereavement care as described in the PSANZ Clinical Practice Guideline for Care Around Stillbirth and Neonatal Death, and SANDS & Stillbirth CRE Australian Principles of Bereavement Care documents
- determine clinical care pathways for timing and content of discussions with parents for stillbirth autopsy and investigations, inpatient postnatal care, discharge planning, transfer to community care, results follow-up and care in subsequent pregnancies.
Acknowledgement of country
We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of Country throughout South Australia. We acknowledge and respect their ongoing and deep spiritual connection and relationship to land, air, sea, waters, community and country. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
About this course
The theoretical component of the curriculum has been developed in alignment with the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ), South Australian Perinatal Practice Guidelines (SAPPG), Stillbirth Foundation Australia, and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC). The framework and objectives of the course have been based on the essential elements of NSQHS Standard 5, Comprehensive Care (2018) which states:
The essential elements for clinicians are:
- Element 1: Clinical assessment and diagnosis
- Element 2: Identify goals of care
- Element 3: Risk screening and assessment
- Element 4: Develop a single comprehensive care plan
- Element 5: Deliver comprehensive care
- Element 6: Review and improve comprehensive care delivery
Essential elements for comprehensive care
Learning framework/platform
All course content is delivered in online modules. There are 2 sections to work your way through progressively. Follow the screen prompts and respond to the questions linked to the learning activities.
Assessment
Within the course there are questions that will need to be completed to progress through the modules as previously explained. You will need to obtain 100% to successfully complete the education.
Duration
The time it will take you to complete this course will vary depending on your level of experience. More experienced practitioners should be able to complete the education in 8 hours. Beginning or less experienced practitioners may need up to 16 hours to complete the course. It is equivalent to a two-day workshop.
This course is designed to be undertaken in stages. Each module will need to be completed in order from 1-5, and then Touchstones 1–5. We recommend that you take 1-2 hours to complete each module in Section 1. The Touchstones in Section 2 will take 1 hour each to complete. Assessments are progressive with a completion certificate available to download at the end of every module.
As the content of the course is comprehensive and potentially emotional, we recommend that you stagger completion of the course based on your own needs.
Certificate
On successful completion of the assessments you can download a certificate of completion.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
It is recommended that 16 hours be recorded for the purpose of self-directed CPD.
Following this activity, RANZCOG Fellows may also complete a Self-evaluation and reflection activity, and record their CPD hours in the Performance Review Domain by using the RANZCOG CPD Self-evaluation and Reflection Tool.
Disclaimer
This course adheres to South Australian (SA Health) guidelines and Australian National Standards.
The principles described in the course can however be applied to any health care setting.
If you practice outside South Australia it is your responsibility to refer to the specific requirements of your local health authority.
We recognise that there are people of Torres Strait Islander identity living in South Australia; however, in recognition that Aboriginal people are the original inhabitants of this state, we have used the term 'Aboriginal' in this document to refer to all people who identify as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, or both.
The words woman/women/mother/she/her have been used throughout this guideline as most pregnant and birthing people identify with their birth sex. However, for the purpose of this education, these terms include people who do not identify as women or mothers, including those with a non-binary identity. All clinicians should ask the pregnant person what their preferred term is and ensure this is communicated to the healthcare team.
The term 'partner' is inclusive of people with diverse sex characteristics, gender identities, and sexual orientations.
Compliance
This course aligns with the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, Second Edition – Standards 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8.
Image information
A mother cradles her baby. She is embraced by figures on either side, who hold the hands of her older children. In the background there are figures, each with a child, baby or children - each baby and child is accompanied by an adult. What I'm trying to convey in this piece is support for families, but also a slightly more esoteric concept that regardless of cultural background - no baby will travel alone. How that happens is up to the interpretation of the person viewing the artwork. if they believe in heaven then it might be a grandparent. If they're Indigenous it might be the ancestors and the dreaming that holds that baby as it journeys on. But regardless of background, all children and babies that pass on, will have a hand to hold on their journey. But in the foreground, in the here and now - as isolating and overwhelming that grief feels; no grieving family are truly alone.
Elisabeth Close
Aboriginal Visual Artist
Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara
contact: elizabethclosearts@gmail.com
Instagram: Elizabeth Close Arts @elizabethclosearts
Counselling support for HCP
It is not our intention to cause any distress to the participants electing to complete this course, however, we acknowledge that some of the content within the course may trigger emotions and memories based on your previous experiences. We encourage you to be aware of your self-care plan and use the strategies you have in place to help care for yourself. We suggest taking some time between completing modules of the course, particularly section 2, The Touchstones; taking time to digest, reflect and look after yourself. If you need to talk to someone, numbers and resources are clearly identified below. Please seek support if needed.
Support services
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 82156799 or 1300 66 77 00
EAP Policy directive SA Health
EAP Adelaide (Private organisation – Adelaide Counselling Practice) 8237 0509
Other numbers you may need
Beyond Blue – 24/7 chat line 1300 22 46 36
Mental Health Triage Line – Mental Health Services 131465