A grief ignored: Narratives of pregnancy loss from a male perspective
Male; Grief; Pregnancy; Attitude; Nurses; Fathers; Role; Research; Self-Help Groups; bereavement; Interviews; narrative; Anger; Paper; Support; Meaning; emotion; male grief; pregnancy loss
This paper, utilising a narrative approach, aims to describe the experiences of men whose partner had experienced pregnancy loss, based on data from Northern Ireland. The methodology was based upon observation within pregnancy loss self-help groups and in-depth interviews with 14 men who attended the groups. The study also included interviews with 32 midwives and nurses, with the intention of examining attitudes within the medical context towards bereaved fathers. The impact of pregnancy loss on male partners has been largely overlooked in academic research. When a baby dies before birth the loss can be devastating for fathers yet, very often, the world that surrounds them tends to discount their loss, and emotional support and cultural rituals that are normally available to other bereaved individuals are often absent for this group of men. Previous research has shown that men are expected to be emotionally strong in order to support their partner. The present study will show that the perception that men have only a supportive role in pregnancy loss is unjustified, as it ignores the actual life-world experiences of the men, and the meanings they attach to their loss, in what may be a very personal emotional tragedy for them where they have limited support available. The study uncovered several recurring themes including self-blame; loss of identity; and the need to appear strong and hide feelings of grief and anger. There is consideration of the need for hospital staff and the wider community to acknowledge the male partner's grief as being a valid response to the bereavement suffered.
2004
McCreight BS
Sociology Of Health & Illness
2004
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Journal Article
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9566.2004.00393.x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">10.1111/j.1467-9566.2004.00393.x</a>
Parental Involvement In Neonatal Critical Care Decision-making.
Sociology; Life; Interrogatives; Consultation; Social Sciences; Biomedical; Decision Making; Shared Decision; Recommendations; Medical Authority; Communication; Conversation; End Of Life Care; Public; Public Environmental & Occupational Health; End; Resistance; Training; Cooperation; Communication; Palliative Care; Decision Making; Intensive Care; Participation; Ethics; Medicine; Physicians; Parents; Conversational Analysis; Decisions; Infant; Palliative Treatment; Parenting; Infants (newborn); Decision Making; Parent And Child; Analysis
Conversation Analysis; Decision-making; End Of Life; Ethics; Neonatal; Parental Involvement
The article analyses the decision-making process between doctors and parents of babies in neonatal intensive care. In particular, it focuses on cases in which the decision concerns the redirection of care from full intensive care to palliative care at the end of life. Thirty one families were recruited from a neonatal intensive care unit in England and their formal interactions with the doctor recorded. The conversations were transcribed and analysed using conversation analysis. Analysis focused on sequences in which decisions about the redirection of care were initiated and progressed. Two distinct communicative approaches to decision-making were used by doctors: 'making recommendations' and 'providing options'. Different trajectories for parental involvement in decision-making were afforded by each design, as well as differences in terms of the alignments, or conflicts, between doctors and parents. 'Making recommendations' led to misalignment and reduced opportunities for questions and collaboration; 'providing options' led to an aligned approach with opportunities for questions and fuller participation in the decision-making process. The findings are discussed in the context of clinical uncertainty, moral responsibility and the implications for medical communication training and guidance.
Shaw C; Stokoe E; Gallagher K; Aladangady N; Marlow N
Sociology Of Health & Illness
2016
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.12455