Reconciliation and reorientation in quality of life are pathways to healing after stillbirth - Individual in-depth interviews two-years after stillbirth: a follow-up study in Sweden.
Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine
Few parents in Sweden experience stillbirth, and knowledge of their longterm recovery is limited. To explore bereaved parents' memories, reflections and insights into their recovery two years after a stillbirth. A mixed-method study involving nine in-depth interviews and responses to eleven quantitative statements. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic network analysis. Two themes emerged: 'Recalled memories and matured reflections of the stillbirth in hindsight' and 'Enhancing quality of life during recovery'. These themes captured the parents' individual experiences of recovery two years after a stillbirth. The bereaved parents described thoughtful and well-formed insights into the loss of their stillborn baby, alongside strategies for enhancing quality of life. One-third of the parents reported their mental health was worse than before the stillbirth, although relationships with partners were still strong and stable, and work was considered highly important. Some parents had subsequently had live births under fortunate circumstances. Despite this, parents expressed a strong belief that the healthcare system should provide individually tailored examinations and check-ups, offering a sense of security and trust through high-quality medical and psychological support for all future pregnancies and births. The qualitative findings were reinforced by the quantitative statements. Bereaved parents described a process of reconciliation with the stillbirth, ac
Abstract
Few parents in Sweden experience stillbirth, and knowledge of their longterm recovery is limited. To explore bereaved parents' memories, reflections and insights into their recovery two years after a stillbirth. A mixed-method study involving nine in-depth interviews and responses to eleven quantitative statements. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic network analysis. Two themes emerged: 'Recalled memories and matured reflections of the stillbirth in hindsight' and 'Enhancing quality of life during recovery'. These themes captured the parents' individual experiences of recovery two years after a stillbirth. The bereaved parents described thoughtful and well-formed insights into the loss of their stillborn baby, alongside strategies for enhancing quality of life. One-third of the parents reported their mental health was worse than before the stillbirth, although relationships with partners were still strong and stable, and work was considered highly important. Some parents had subsequently had live births under fortunate circumstances. Despite this, parents expressed a strong belief that the healthcare system should provide individually tailored examinations and check-ups, offering a sense of security and trust through high-quality medical and psychological support for all future pregnancies and births. The qualitative findings were reinforced by the quantitative statements. Bereaved parents described a process of reconciliation with the stillbirth, accompanied by an enhanced quality of life, which may help mitigate the long-term trauma associated with the loss of their baby, even two years after the event.