Disenfranchised Grief Following a Traumatic Birth

ABSTRACT

Following a “failed” birth plan, some women experience trauma. Because most of these women do end up with a healthy baby, their support system does not necessarily support the sadness felt at the loss of the dream birth experience, leading to disenfranchised grief. Comments on a Facebook post linked to an essay from the Scary Mommy website were examined. Thematic analysis revealed three overarching categories of comments: (a) grief is disenfranchised by others through nonlosses and one-upping; (b) other posters expressed camaraderie for the loss of a dream birth, expressing empathy; and, (c) conditional support.

KEYWORDS:

• Birth plan
• birth trauma
• disenfranchised grief
• one-upping

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jocelyn M. DeGroot

Jocelyn M. DeGroot is an associate professor in the Department of Applied Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Her research interests are in communicative issues of death and dying.

Tennley A. Vik

Tennley A. Vik is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication & Theatre at Emporia State University. Her research focuses on how families communicate about health.