Stillbirth and neonatal death are devastating pregnancy outcomes with enduring psychosocial and emotional effects on parents and families. Families need appropriate support, yet access to services is often limited. In a randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the efficacy and acceptability of a self-guided internet-based perinatal grief program, Living with Loss (LWL), to support coping and wellbeing among bereaved parents following perinatal death. Eligible parents, largely mothers, were recruited online and randomized to the intervention arm (n = 48) or a care-as-usual (CAU) control arm (n = 47). The LWL program comprised six internet-based modules completed over 8 weeks. The primary outcome was psychological distress; secondary outcomes were perinatal grief intensity, anxiety, depression, and program satisfaction and acceptability. The LWL program reduced psychological distress at post-program compared with CAU. The program had moderate adherence rates and high program satisfaction. There were no differences in the secondary outcomes, and the effect on psychological distress was not sustained at 3-month follow-up. This study provides preliminary evidence for the utility of an internet-based perinatal grief support program to reduce psychological distress in the shorter term among bereaved parents. Further research is needed to determine how psychological distress can be minimized in the longer term, and whether self-guided internet-based support is effective for bereaved fathers and extended family members. Further research is also needed to investigate the effectiveness of the program in real-world settings.

Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12621000631808, registered prospectively on 27/05/2021; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=381231&isReview=true