Saudi Journal for Health Sciences

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2023  |  Volume : 12  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 31--37

Describing the lived experiences of nurses and midwives in caring for mothers and families during a fetal loss


Rabab Bazaraah1, Howieda Fouly2, Jennifer De Beer3 
1 College of Nursing, King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2 Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE, Assuit University, Egypt
3 King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Correspondence Address:
Jennifer De Beer
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah
Saudi Arabia

Background: Pregnancy is often anticipated as a positive experience for women with the expectation of having a healthy infant in the end. However, some pregnancies end in fetal loss, which can have profound effects on parents and families and is characterized by shock, anger, emptiness, helplessness, and loneliness. Aims: The study aimed to describe the lived experiences of nurses and midwives regarding care provided for mothers and families during the fetal loss at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Western region. Setting and Design: The study setting was the labor and delivery units at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Western region, Saudi Arabia. Husserl's phenomenological approach was used. Materials and Methods: Purposive sampling included 11 nurses and midwives were included. Data were collected through in-depth interviews that were audio reordered and then transcribed verbatim. Statistical Analysis: Thematic analysis using Giorgi's data analysis steps was used. Results: Two themes emerged regarding the experiences of nurses in caring for mothers and families who experience fetal loss, namely emotional turmoil with subthemes, heavy heart, feeling helpless, lack of self-control, feeling guilty, feeling extreme sadness, feeling isolation; and barriers with subthemes culture, lack of nursing care, and limited skill. Conclusion: Two major themes emerged from the study that highlighted that nurses found caring for patients and families after a fetal loss a challenging experience and, at times, were unable to manage their own emotions.


How to cite this article:
Bazaraah R, Fouly H, Beer JD. Describing the lived experiences of nurses and midwives in caring for mothers and families during a fetal loss.Saudi J Health Sci 2023;12:31-37


How to cite this URL:
Bazaraah R, Fouly H, Beer JD. Describing the lived experiences of nurses and midwives in caring for mothers and families during a fetal loss. Saudi J Health Sci [serial online] 2023 [cited 2023 Mar 31 ];12:31-37
Available from: https://www.saudijhealthsci.org/article.asp?issn=2278-0521;year=2023;volume=12;issue=1;spage=31;epage=37;aulast=Bazaraah;type=0