The National Archive of Grief Support Studies
The National Archive of Grief Support Studies(NAGSS) database provides bibliographical information and summaries of recent articles selected for their relevance to grief and bereavement service providers. The articles that are summarized are selected from scholarly, peer-reviewed journals and are intended to highlight key concepts as well as provide a brief statement of implications for service providers. Bibliographical information may be used to obtain the original article.
Perinatal Loss: A Qualitative Study in Northern Ireland
Authors:
McCreight, B. S.
Source:
Omega: 2008. Volume 57, Issue 1, pp. 1-20.
Summary
This article summarizes the findings of a qualitative research study based on in-depth interviews with 23 women recruited from pregnancy loss support groups. The women, ranging in age from 19 to 60, experienced either stillbirth or miscarriage. The time period since the loss ranged from two months to 34 years. The women narrated their stories in terms of the feelings they experienced during and since the loss. Many of the women stated that their emotional experiences of grief and the disposal of the baby’s remains were marginalized or not recognized at all by the medical community or by the existing social structure. The research suggests that the recognition of bereavement and the attendant emotions as a result of pregnancy loss is important to the well-being of women.
Key words: child, meaning, miscarriage, mother, pregnancy, stillbirth
Service Provider Implications
This article suggests to service providers that a disenfranchised group of mourners, women who have experienced a pregnancy loss through stillbirth or miscarriage, would benefit by participation in a support group that recognizes their grief experiences and emotions. The article also suggests that there is a need for more training within the medical community and greater understanding within society of the grief associated with pregnancy loss.
