Spiritual Support to Improve Women's Mental Health after Miscarriage and Stillbirth: A Qualitative Study in Japan

Miscarriage and stillbirth can severely impact maternal mental well-being.

In Japan, local municipalities must prepare systems to provide mental and social-spiritual support to women after miscarriage or stillbirth.

To elucidate what spiritually supports the mental health of women who have experienced miscarriages and stillbirths.

This analysis included 25 women who had experienced miscarriage or stillbirth at least one month previously and participated in self-help group meetings at least twice. Data were collected from March 2020 to March 2021 using two narrative interviews and questionnaires.

The mothers led their lives "together" with their children. They derived spiritual support from others, such as "the presence of someone who is living now after having experienced anguish" and "others who acknowledge the presence of my child and me as a mother. " Further elements of the support included "resigning myself to face my grief" and "strong links to deceased children. " While facing their grief by accepting that this anguish cannot be replaced [with anything else] and resigning themselves to reality, their bond to their child is strengthened.

What women perceive as support after a miscarriage or stillbirth will be an important clue to care.