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Abstract: Objective: to explore how severe postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and its management is experienced by women and their partners, and how they later view events. Design: interpretive phenomenological qualitative study with semi-structured interviews. Setting: in-depth interviews were conducted in participants'' homes and focused on experiences of PPH in hospital and post-discharge. Participants: nine women who had experienced severe PPH and six partners. Findings: this study demonstrates the stressful and emotional nature of severe PPH and extends the literature by considering partners'' perspectives. Women and men had different experiences and information needs, but interviewees often shared a common desire for help to understand past events. A dominant theme of communication difficulties, and two subthemes, disempowerment and information-deprivation arose strongly from the data. Communication difficulties were understandable during the emergency but were frustrating and upsetting in postpartum care and the longer term. Conclusions and implications for practice: research is needed to develop better communication and supportive strategies, which might avoid the sense of disempowerment in this potentially vulnerable population. Different information and support needs for women and men should be considered whatever policies are implemented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: to explore women''s and their partners'' views of recruitment to emergency trials in severe postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Design: interview-based qualitative study. In semi-structured in-depth interviews, five recruitment options for a PPH trial in an emergency context were considered. Setting: interviews were carried out in participants'' homes. Participants: nine women who had experienced a severe PPH and six partners. Findings: interviewees rejected three options; decision-making by women prior to delivery, and by partners and legal representatives at the time of the emergency. Preferred options were women making antenatal decisions about trial entry themselves, followed by doctors making decisions at the time of the emergency. Conclusions and implications for practice: recruitment options involving women and their partners at the time of an emergency were rejected. Antenatal decision-making raises logistical and ethical considerations for emergency trial teams. Further research is needed to address the possibility of antenatal decisions for emergency trials and to develop and assess supportive post-enrolment recruitment and information strategies which take into account the stressful context of clinical emergencies such as PPH. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: The provision of bereavement care is an important part of neonatal intensive care. This systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions to support families and facilitate emotional adjustment following the death of a baby suggests that, while these are largely appreciated by parents who have participated in research, there has been little rigorous evaluation of their effectiveness. This review reflects on possible reasons for this; for example: NICU-led bereavement care is changing, the effectiveness of bereavement care is difficult to measure, concepts of effectiveness are not static, and ethical concerns complicate experimental research. Bereavement interventions are compassion-led and generally considered to be beneficial. New research questions and new methodological challenges are discussed with reference to two examples of evolving practice: bereavement photography and the use of ritual. Future research using innovative and sensitive RCTs and consensus amongst relevant stakeholders is suggested. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]