CASE VIGNETTES

The videos in this section depict three scenarios that physicians may encounter with women experiencing pregnancy loss.  As you watch, keep in mind the positive and negative aspects of the physician’s communication and behavior.

A panel of five national experts including clinicians, researchers, educators, authors and activists, each with varied expertise relevant to pregnancy loss was convened to discuss their reactions to the clinical case vignettes and their recommendations for best practices with patients dealing with pregnancy loss. 

The Case Vignettes are :

  1. Vignette 1: "Valerie"
    "Valerie" is a 43 year unmarried G0 African American female who has a prior history of a myomectomy for large fibroids at age 35. She has always desired a pregnancy, but delayed childbearing secondary to personal and professional circumstances.

  2. Vignette 2: "Mrs. Robinson"
    "Mrs. Robinson" is a 28 year old, married, G2P1001 Asian American female (born and raised in the U.S.) at 20 weeks spontaneous twin gestation.  Her first delivery was an uncomplicated vaginal delivery 3 years earlier.  "Mrs. Robinson" suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of her first child. The depression was moderate in severity and although untreated, remitted after approximately 6 months.  She has not experienced any mood disturbances since that time. She had little trouble getting pregnant a second time and did a home pregnancy test that was positive after she missed her last period.

  3. Vignette 3: "Verna"
    "Verna" is a 23 year old G3P0020 white female with a 30 week gestation.  She had an elective abortion at age 16.  She got married two years ago and immediately got pregnant.  She received normal prenatal care; however she experienced a stillbirth at 32 weeks gestation due to a nuchal cord accident with fetal asphyxiation. When the nuchal cord accident was discovered, labor was medically induced and the baby was delivered vaginally.