Maternal mourning : pain and coping with the loss of a baby

Abstract

Objective: to understand how mothers experienced the experience of their babies’ mourning. Methods: this is a qualitative study, conducted with nine mothers who experienced the loss of a child under one year. Semistructured interviews were conducted, and the reports were organized using the Collective Subject Discourse. Results: the participants indicated the complexity and difficulties of the mourning process, implying a grief that lasted but could be overcome through spirituality and family support. They also showed the lack of support from the health services. Conclusion: although mourning is a complex and peculiar process, the mothers pointed out the importance of the spirituality and support of their relatives, but highlighted the lack of support from the health services.