| Dimension: Sense-making of death |
| Lack of understanding: One is trying to make sense or meaning but has not found it or has given up on searching for it. Confusion and questioning about why the loss occurred. |
General |
| Purpose or mission: Vision that the child had a mission that was accomplished, so then the loss had a greater purpose for which the couple was destined. |
Typical |
| Not the right moment: References to the moment in time when the loss occurred (e.g. it was not the right moment, things happen in God’s time). |
Typical |
| Losing is part of life: Viewing the loss as a natural life process, as a random event. |
Typical |
| Blame: Identifying a specific agent that caused the loss (e.g. medical error, woman’s fault, self-blame). |
Typical |
| Lack of control: Loss as an event out of control, that cannot be controlled. |
Variant |
| Medical explanations: Explanations based on mother’s or baby’s diagnoses or medical conditions. |
Variant |
| Dimension: Benefit finding in the loss experience |
| Strengthened bonds: Reference to the couple being closer and united due to the loss. |
General |
| Helping others: Desire to help and concrete help to others (e.g. donations). |
Typical |
| Connecting with family/friends: Closer contact with family members (except spouse) and friends because of the loss. |
Typical |
| Greater empathy: Greater empathy and a sense of respect for human suffering, especially for others who have gone through a pregnancy loss. |
Typical |
| Positive perspective on life: Perceiving and valuing positive aspects in life despite the loss, having hope for the future. |
Typical |
| Dimension: Identity change |
| Parenting as a life project: Maintaining or increasing the desire for parenting, the importance of being a mother/father in the life project. |
General |
| Lost innocence: Loss of innocence, ingenuity, and trustiness in humanity. |
Typical |
| Personal growth: Internal improvement that resulted in strength, changes in priorities, maturity, etc. |
Typical |
| Mother and father identity: Consider oneself as a mother or father, mentioning my/our son/daughter. |
Typical |
| Identity as a bereaved person: Mourning as a mark on life or personality, new identities assumed related to mourning (e.g. angel’s mother). |
Typical |
| Lost identity: Loss of roles, functions, self, or faith in the future (e.g. loss of pregnant status). |
Typical |
| Non-specific identity change: References to changes without specification of its nature (e.g. something has changed). |
Variant |
| Additional dimension: Meaning-making process |
| Lack of social recognition: Lack of support and recognition about the loss and the grieving process from the social environment. |
General |
| Gender differences: Differences between men and women in reacting and dealing with the loss. |
General |
| Emotion intensity |
|
| • Emotionality: Reports of positive or neutral emotional states concerning loss and bereavement. |
General |
| • Negative affection: Reports of negative emotional states concerning loss and bereavement. |
General |
| • Affirmation of the baby as a real person |
Typical |
| • Memories: Descriptions of the baby’s physical characteristics and collection of objects that represent the baby (e.g. clothes). |
| • Continuity of the bond: Mentions about the baby being someone present and real in the couple’s life, which will never be forgotten. |
Typical |
| • Missing the child: Reference to missing the child and aspects that will not be lived due to death. |
Variant |
| • Short time together: Mention of little time with the baby after birth. |
Variant |
| • Coping strategies |
General |
| • Spirituality: Searching for spirituality/religiosity as a source of support and comfort. |
| • Moving forward: Mentions to go on with life, continue, let the time pass, not to be beaten. |
General |
| • Search for peers: Search for similar stories as a means of identification and support. |
General |
| • Psychotherapy or psychiatric treatment: Psychotherapy or use of prescribed psychiatric drugs to deal with the loss. |
Typical |
| • Externalizing: References to talk or write about the loss. |
Typical |
| • Addictions, excesses, and isolation: Reports of addictive and excessive behaviors (alcohol, overwork, and food) and social isolation. |
Typical |
| • Positive lifestyle changes: Performing physical exercises, retaking hobbies, connecting with nature and others (e.g. acupuncture). |
Variant |
| • Acceptance: Generic mentions regarding accept what happened. |
Variant |
| • Staying busy: Staying busy to deal with grief. |
Variant |
| • Reading and searching for information: Research on possible medical causes for the loss and information on the grieving process. |
Variant |
