Long-Term Effects of Perinatal Loss

Abstract

A small-scale interview study of 34 randomly identified adults who had experienced amongst them 55 instances of perinatal loss explored the memory of the event and the personal meaning ascribed to it, the nature of support involved, and ways of dealing with grief that had lasted over periods as long as 44 years. Individuality of experience, and interpretation of it, changes over time, dissonance between spouses' reactions, mourning for disappointment with husbands' supportiveness, and lack of use or usefulness of professional support systems are primary findings.