Sibling Grief over Perinatal Loss—A Retrospective Qualitative Study

Abstract

Grief over perinatal loss is a personal experience that has a lasting impact on the life of the surviving siblings. This retrospective study is an in-depth exploration of the symbolic construction of the bond with the lost sibling employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, a method to study sensitive themes. Our results have confirmed the strong social and cultural embeddedness of the grief experience. Participants of the study related perinatal loss to other major crises, conflicts, and overwhelming secrets in the lives of their families. Communication outside the family was often insensitive and stigmatizing, transforming bereaved children?s stories into silenced stories.