The impact of stillbirth on bereaved parents: A qualitative study

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191635
• Publication Date: 2018-01-24T13:36:44Z
• Authors: Daniel Nuzum; Sarah Meaney; Keelin O’Donoghue
• Keywords: Qualitative studies; Parents; Science; Emotions; Q; R; Interpersonal relationships; Stillbirth; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Pregnancy; Birth; Health services research; Medicine; Humans; Children; Stillbirths; Qualitative Research; Research Article; Bereavement

To explore the lived experiences and personal impact of stillbirth on bereaved parents.Semi-structured in-depth interviews analysed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) a purposive sample parents twelve babies born following fetal death at tertiary university maternity hospital in Ireland with birth rate c8,500 per annum 4.6/1000.Stillbirth had profound enduring parents. Four superordinate themes relating to human emerged from data: maintaining hope, importance personhood baby, protective care relationships (personal professional). Bereaved recalled vivid detail their diagnosis subsequent care. The time between life-limiting anomaly or delivery is highlighted as important for they find meaning loss.The immense how are cared precise revisit experience. Building existing literature, these data bring light depth experience provides medical professionals valuable insights inform clear sensitive communication.