Research scientist Nichole Cubbage discusses her article, "The silent grief of vanishing twin syndrome: Why words matter in health care." She explains that Vanishing Twin Syndrome (VTS), the loss of one fetus in a multiple pregnancy, often leads to unique and isolating grief, frequently unacknowledged by health care providers. Nichole shares findings from her research indicating significant dissatisfaction among patients regarding provider communication and the information received about VTS, with over half reporting negative experiences. The conversation highlights how provider language—using terms like "insignificant" or medically unclear phrasing—profoundly affects patients' emotional processing and underscores the lack of standardized clinical guidelines for VTS diagnosis and counseling. Nichole points to initiatives like the Butterfly Project as models for providing structured support and emphasizes actionable steps for providers: including normalizing discussions about chorionicity, acknowledging the emotional impact, offering resources, and referring to support systems, ultimately stressing that compassionate communication is crucial for improving VTS care.

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Acknowledging the silent grief of vanishing twin syndrome

The Podcast by KevinMD