Modified Delphi for Genomic Bereavement Care

There is a lack of guidance available as to how to care for women and families who suffer a pregnancy loss where fetal anomalies have been found and a genetic cause is suspected. As it is estimated that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss, these families make up a significant proportion of the population that maternity services care for and with no consensus in this area many families may have a poor experience.

As the field of genomics rapidly advances, it is important that patient care reflects the changes in practice and that the most appropriate tests and support are offered. All aspects of patient care will be reviewed including diagnosis, delivery, laboratory investigations, postnatal care and follow up in future pregnancies. The role of the genomics midwife will be explored and the role of the bereavement midwife will be further defined when it comes to support following pregnancy loss where there is likely an underlying genomic cause.

The aim of this modified delphi study is to understand what the current expert consensus is for genomic bereavement care. Using this, best practice guidance will be written that can be used within the NHS to better support families who suffer pregnancy loss during this pregnancy and in the future.

Inclusion criteria

• Participants must belong to one of the relevant stakeholder groups; Maternal and fetal medicine consultants or obstetricians with a special interest in fetal medicine, Clinical geneticists with an interest in prenatal genomics, Perinatal pathologists Clinical scientists with an interest in genomics, Bereavement midwives.

Exclusion criteria

• Nil if inclusion criteria are met