Abstract

Perinatal death is the death of a baby between 24?weeks of pregnancy (or weighing 500?g) and seven days after birth (a stillbirth or neonatal death). Twin pregnancy (pregnancy with two babies) is associated with a higher risk of perinatal death than a singleton pregnancy (pregnancy with one baby). We spoke with nine parents who had experienced the death of one twin during the perinatal period in a twin pregnancy, all of whom had a prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomaly. Parents spoke about how distressed they were when initially informed that there was a problem. On diagnosis, parents began a complex palliative journey, proceeding in the pregnancy and grieving one baby while trying to ensure the welfare of the co-twin. As parents were encouraged to focus on the “normal” twin, they felt their opportunity to grieve was reduced. It was important that the surviving twin would be identified as a twin and know of their sibling, but parents carried feelings of deep sadness, because this was also a reminder that one twin would always be missing. Clear and appropriate information in relation to perinatal palliative care should be provided to parents in twin pregnancies diagnosed with a fetal anomaly.