[The Childbearing Experiences of Taiwanese Women After a Stillbirth]

Perinatal losses are traumatic events for women and may have serious long-term consequences for the psychological health of women and subsequent pregnancies. Therefore, it is important to explore the psychological adaptation process of subsequent pregnancy after loss in order to understand the overall phenomenon of perinatal loss.

To explore the childbearing experiences of women who have experienced a prior stillbirth.

This qualitative descriptive study targeted a purposive sample of 15 women who had prior personal experiences with stillbirth. A total of 22 in-depth interviews were conducted in order to ensure data saturation. Women who had experienced stillbirth at one of two teaching hospitals in southern Taiwan were recruited. Data were analyzed using content analysis.

Three themes were identified that captured the complex feelings of participants regarding their subsequent childbearing experiences: (1) looking forward to another pregnancy but afraid of being hurt again, (2) treading on thin ice, and (3) bearing another child helps heal the loss of the stillborn.

The empirical data gathered in the present study helps build a more complete understanding of the process of recovery that women undergo following a stillbirth experience. In addition, the results suggest that healthcare professionals should be aware of and accept the worries and reactions of women during their subsequent pregnancy in order to help these women achieve a positive subsequent childbearing experience.