Coping with loss of a baby at 20 to 24 weeks of pregnancy
Experiences of grief For parents, the loss of their baby was extremely painful and represented the loss of a whole future. Carly described how: 'Your...
Fathers we spoke to were very affected by the loss of their baby.
During pregnancy, if their wife or partner was in hospital for a period of time before the birth, fathers were trying to support them, while also managing their worry about their partner’s health and the pregnancy. Fathers often felt they had to fight to have their wife or partner’s symptoms taken seriously when she became ill or worried about their baby.
Many fathers spoke about how hard they had found it to see their partner in pain or unwell. Sometimes there had been difficult decisions to make when their partner and their baby’s life were at risk, and fathers worried for both mother, baby and their other children. Lindsay described how, when faced with a difficult decision to end her pregnancy because of worries about her health, her husband wanted her to focus on how their older son, he “needs his Mum. You know, regardless of what your instincts are, he needs you to come home.”
Despite their grief at losing their baby, often fathers talked about their relief that their partner was safe. Mike recalled how tough it was seeing “your wife in pain, and you’re worried, and you’ve seen her being rushed off in an ambulance, and you’re trying to follow behind her”.
Fathers often had to juggle home and work life while their partner was ill. There was work to fit in with visiting and fathers with older children also had to look after them and try to maintain a sense of normality. While some parents were provided with bereavement suites that offered a helpful space for both parents during and after the birth, often fathers felt marginalised as the facilities available during pregnancy were not inclusive of them. Some talked of not being able to stay at the hospital while others had to sleep in a chair while staying with their partner.
Giving birth to their very premature baby was very difficult for mothers we spoke to. Fathers were a key presence, helping them through an extremely difficult time. Iain felt he had to be assertive to get pain relief for his wife Michelle saying, “No, my wife needs gas and air. I’ve seen this loads of times, she’ll need gas and air.” Courtney was very touched by her husband’s gentle care and attention during the birth when they were left alone as he was “mopping up blood, and trying to clean my legs… because I think he was by himself. That was tough”.
Parents often spoke of different reactions or ways of dealing with their loss. Some fathers felt they were less deeply affected or found it more difficult to grieve than their wife or partner as they had felt less of a connection with their baby before the birth. This sometimes contributed to different experiences of grief after the loss of their baby by mothers and fathers and had an impact on their relationship.
Some of the fathers had to manage taking time off work before the birth of their baby when their partner was in hospital for several days or weeks. But many had very little time off work after the loss of their baby (between 1 week and 6 weeks) and their experiences of support on returning to work were mixed. Adam described how hard it was being back at work, “obviously it’s been really, really tough for Joelle. But it’s been tough for me as well. You know, I’ve been back at work, and had to kind of get on with things”. Raj found being back at work “distracts you quite well, but obviously you’re not talking about what you need to talk about sometimes, and getting it off your chest.”
Many of the mothers and fathers we spoke to felt men’s feelings were overlooked. Fathers often felt forgotten after the loss of the baby as help, sympathy and care was focused on the mother.
Many parents highlighted the lack of support that was available to fathers and partners compared to mothers. Sarah described how bereavement care was focused on her as a mother while her husband was treated “as my secondary support… but it was very much… his loss as well.” Asun also felt bereavement care was “not something that’s offered to the dads… It’s focused on the mother. And the loss is for both.”
Experiences of grief For parents, the loss of their baby was extremely painful and represented the loss of a whole future. Carly described how: 'Your...
Parents grieved the loss of their baby intensely, and many found it very hard to cope with their feelings. Parents often sought support from their...