Losing a child through stillbirth : the father’s perspective

Abstract

Numerous studies delved into the impact of stillbirth on women and the couple's relationship. However, few studies focused on the father's experience. This study employed semistructured interviews with five fathers who experienced stillbirth. Thematic narrative analysis was utilised to analyse the data. Results show that the father's attachment to the baby begins from the onset of the pregnancy, increasing when the baby is born. The narratives of this untimely loss are about a sense of helplessness and profound grief that the fathers had to keep at bay in order to care for their wives. Preparing for the funeral and sharing the news were identified as roles they took on in the aftermath of the stillbirth. For these fathers honoring the memory of the baby through various means was healing. The couple's relationship was also impacted due to the different grieving styles. Lastly, the fathers wanted to be acknowledged and seen as grieving fathers. This study highlights the need for a more couplecentered approach in caring for parents who experience stillbirth.