Objectives: As stillbirth has a devastating impact, it is imperative to understand the
importance of clinical and emotional care after stillbirth and how it influences subsequent
pregnancies. The aim of the study was to gain insight into the consideration and
planning of a subsequent pregnancy by parents in the weeks following stillbirth.
Design: A qualitative semi-structured interview format was utilized. Interpretative
phenomenological analysis was employed as the analytic strategy. Participants and setting: The recruitment strategy focused on couples whereby the parents of ten stillborn babies were contacted; however, five men declined to participate in the study. The final sample of 15 parents were all Irish: ten of whom were female and five of whom were male.
Results: Findings revealed two superordinate themes relating to a subsequent pregnancy
after stillbirth: aspirations for future pregnancy and expectations of future care.
Parents disclosed how the prospect of a subsequent pregnancy was daunting with
fears about the potential loss of another child. Despite these fears, parents’ aspirations
differed in the days following stillbirth; mothers wished to plan a future pregnancy
while fathers were reluctant to consider any pregnancies. Parents were unsure of
what to expect in terms of the level of care that would be provided to them in a subsequent
pregnancy. Additional appointments at the maternity hospital were considered crucial to provide reassurance during a subsequent pregnancy. Conclusions: These findings underscore the far-reaching and contrasting effects of stillbirth on parents. These complex needs highlight the importance of the multidisciplinary team approach.