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The impact on midwives of their first stillbirth

Abstract:

Objective: This study seeks understanding of the midwife’s experiences in relation to the loss of a baby. Current research focuses mainly on the experiences of the families who have gone through stillbirth while studies of the experience of the midwife involved in stillbirth care is lacking. When caring for a woman who is going through a stillbirth, the midwife must navigate her own personal and professional journey. Methods: The midwife’s journey was the focus of this qualitative study which utilised hermeneutic interpretive phenomenology. As part of a master's dissertation, five New Zealand self-employed midwives were interviewed and asked to tell their story of the first time they cared for a woman whose baby had died in utero and the aftermath of their experience. Findings: Two emergent themes were identified: 'A pocketfull of grief' and 'A heavy heart'. This paper focuses on the theme, 'A pocketfull of grief' which is made up of three sub-themes: ‘Shockwave’, ‘Self-protection’ and ‘Blameworthiness’. The death of a baby is a significant event for the midwife providing care. Conclusion: This study has provided a deeper understanding of the emotional impact of still birth on the midwife. Each midwife experienced shock and an intense and personal sense of loss. This created tension as they strived to cope with their own emotions and continued to care for the woman and her family.

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bereavement, community-based midwifery, grief, hermeneutics, Phenomenology, stillbirth