‘She was a person, she was here’: The experience of late pregnancy loss in Australia

Abstract

Objective: To describe Australian women’s experience of late pregnancy loss, with a particular emphasis on their experiences with the health care system. Background: Stillbirth occurs in 1 of every 200 births, yet little research attention has been paid to women’s experiences of stillbirth or the role of heath care providers in helping them cope with this profoundly distressing experience. Methods: Qualitative analysis of 14 Australian women’s descriptions of their recent stillbirth experiences, collected via an online survey. Results: Women generally described the experience of pregnancy loss as exceptionally distressing, but health care providers as positive and supportive. They were more negative about hospital policies and procedures, and about ambiguities and misunderstandings which increased their distress. Conclusion: Most women interpreted the experience as the birth and death of a baby, and as a major family tragedy, while at least some health care professionals appeared to view it primarily as a medical problem. This mismatch in perceptions appeared on occasions to exacerbate levels of distress and to result in care that was focused on medical rather than personal concerns.

Keywords:

• qualitative methods
• termination of pregnancy

Acknowledgements

This project was conducted in the Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies, funded by the Queensland Government. I am grateful to Yvette Miller and Julie Porter, and to the 14 women who shared their stories.