Vilomah: A Name and Identity for a Woman Whose Child Has Died

There is no commonly used word in the English language to describe a woman whose child has died. This absence of terminology may contribute to complicated grief, poor maternal identity adaptation, and alteration of societal expectations following the death of a child. Grief and mourning are deeply intertwined with social and cultural contexts, including language, that dictate meaning and expressions of grief. Vilomah, meaning "against the natural order," is proposed as a single word that captures this unique demographic group, similar to that of widow or orphan. A demographic label contributes to identity formation and has the potential to empower individuals and groups. A woman may become a vilomah at any age due to a variety of circumstances requiring individualized, targeted nursing interventions across the life span.