Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Practice Exam

Parental anticipatory grief refers to the emotional pain and mourning that parents experience when they are faced with the prospect of losing their child or when their child has a life-limiting condition. This type of grief can be influenced by several factors related to the pregnancy, delivery, and the infant's health.

The severity of the infant's illness is a critical factor that typically exacerbates anticipatory grief. When an infant is seriously ill, the emotional toll on the parents escalates, as they are acutely aware of the potential consequences of the illness, including the possibility of loss. This reality can lead to heightened feelings of grief and anxiety about the future.

In contrast, the mode of delivery, positive feelings about the pregnancy, and the duration of hospitalization can be connected to the emotional experiences of parents, but they do not directly relate to the grief that might arise from their child’s medical condition in the same manner as severity of illness does. For instance, a complicated delivery may influence the initial emotional state of parents, but it does not play the same role in anticipatory grief as the ongoing health issues present in a severely ill newborn. Similarly, positive feelings about the pregnancy can help buffer against grief, and the length of hospitalization may also present challenges but