Understanding the Mourning Rituals of Women Who Have Experienced Perinatal Loss: A Qualitative Study

Betül Uncu1,2, Feyza Aktaş Reyhan3, Gülistan Acaban4

  • 1Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Science, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Türkiye.

Omega
|June 24, 2025
PubMed

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the mourning rituals and meaning-making processes of women who experienced perinatal loss, focusing on how cultural, emotional, and social contexts shape their experiences. Conducted between January-March 2025, the study involved eight women who were interviewed shortly after delivery and again via online platforms after the 42nd postpartum day. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview form and analyzed through content analysis. Three main themes emerged: "Perception of Loss Experience", "Cultural, Religious and Personal Rituals in the Mourning Process" and "Coping Resources and Support Mechanisms". Participants described engaging in traditional rituals such as condolences, prayers, and grave visits, as well as personal rituals like keeping items belonging to their babies. These rituals served as emotional anchors in their grieving process. The findings highlight the critical role of cultural, religious, and personal elements in shaping how women understand and cope with perinatal loss, underlining their importance in emotional healing.

Related Concept Videos

Bonanno's Theory of Grieving01:17

Bonanno's Theory of Grieving

Grieving is a complex psychological and emotional process that varies significantly among individuals. George Bonanno's research on bereavement identified four distinct patterns of grieving, offering a nuanced understanding of how people cope with significant loss, such as the death of a spouse, over extended periods. These patterns — resilience, recovery, chronic dysfunction, and delayed grief — highlight the diversity in emotional responses and adaptive mechanisms.
Resilience
152
Menses Phase01:18

Menses Phase

The uterine cycle begins with the menstrual phase, which is considered day one of the cycle and typically lasts about five days. This phase is characterized by the degeneration and shedding of the stratum functionalis, the functional layer of the endometrium.
When fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum deteriorates, causing a significant drop in the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body. This hormonal decrease triggers the release of prostaglandins, which cause the uterine...
443
Ovarian Cycle01:27

Ovarian Cycle

The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle...
1.8K
Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying01:21

Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross significantly advanced psychology's understanding of the process of dying with her influential book, On Death and Dying (1969). She focused on studying terminally ill individuals and outlined five stages commonly experienced when coping with death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from...
323
Parental Care00:55

Parental Care

Many animals exhibit parental care behavior, including feeding, grooming, and protecting young offspring. Parental care is universal in mammals and birds, which often have young that are born relatively helpless. Several species of insects and fish, as well as some amphibians, also care for their young.
11.9K