Coping with Loss and Grief of Postpartum Women with Death Fetal in Utero

Abstract

This qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological study aimed to explore the experiences of coping with loss and grief among postnatal women with death fetal in utero when they labored at Phatthalung Hospital from April 2022 to September 2022. Purposeful sampling was used for the recruitment of 15 participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather information through individual in-depth interviews with members checked for verification. Data were analyzed by content analysis.

The results revealed that the encounters with loss and grief for the death fetal in utero were: 1) Responses to loss and grief upon learning of the death fetal which included: 1.1) awareness of the potential impact on oneself and family, 1.2) the amount of time to overcome loss and grief, and 1.3) acceptance of the truth leading to appropriate encounters with loss and grief; 2) Coping with loss and grief consisted of two sub-themes, namely: 2.1) coping with loss and grief by oneself and 2.2) receiving support from others or the environment. The results of this study could make healthcare providers understand the loss and grief of women with death fetal in utero. The results can be used as basic information to develop nursing guidelines for postpartum women with death fetal in utero to deal effectively with the loss and grief and be able to continue living in the appropriate way.