The experience of maternal grief in the face of perinatal loss

Abstract

When a perinatal death is confirmed, all the investment that a woman makes in building a representation of her child and her relationship with them is interrupted and prevented from materializing, typically resulting in denial of the fact and immense suffering. For her, it's not just the loss of a child but also a loss of their own identity and a part of herself. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze maternal grief in the face of perinatal loss. An exploratory, descriptive research with qualitative analysis of the results was conducted. To achieve the objective, semi-structured interviews were conducted online, both synchronously and asynchronously. Twelve mothers who had lost their babies between 22 completed weeks of gestation and the first 7 days of life, from 2021 to 2023, voluntarily participated. After transcribing the interviews, thematic content analysis was performed, leading to the establishment of three categories for discussion of the results: "Blossom(be)ing" (an analogy to the participants' pseudonyms), "Mothers in Grief: Understanding the Experience of Perinatal Loss," and "The (Re)signification of Grief: Emotions, Memories, and Meanings." The research highlighted the complexity and challenges of maternal grief in the face of perinatal loss, as well as the potential for and possibilities of the process of redefinition, recognizing that it is not static. In this context, there is a demand for greater preparation and sensitivity from healthcare teams, strengthening support networks, and changes in legislation and public policies to provide humane assistance and support to families experiencing perinatal grief.