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Maternal and child health

Maternal perception of pregnancy loss: a qualitative systematic review

02 March 2025
Literature Review
02 March 2025
Volume 33 · Issue 3

Abstract

Background/Aims

Pregnancy loss is a complex and often stigmatised event with a significant impact on mothers. Understanding maternal perception is crucial for personalised care, but research on this is fragmented. This review synthesises qualitative studies on mothers' perceptions of pregnancy loss.

Methods

A systematic review with thematic synthesis was conducted across five databases (Medline, CINAHL, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, Scopus, Cochrane). Qualitative studies published between January 2012 and March 2024 were included.

Results

A total of 15 studies were selected. Five themes emerged: facilitators, inhibitors, context, professional support and impact.

Conclusions

Pregnancy loss deeply affects women's personal and professional lives, with perceptions shaped by support from family, healthcare professionals, and cultural or religious factors.

Implications for practice

Reforming hospital care and increasing emotional support for mothers and healthcare providers are critical. Further research should explore this topic to inform specific training and care strategies.

The loss of a baby is an overwhelming experience for parents and families (Serrano et al, 2018). Approximately one in five parents suffer intense and prolonged grief following the death of a baby at the time of birth (Meaney et al, 2017). The death of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss or elective termination for fetal abnormalities is an experience with devastating impacts, affecting more than 5 million women globally (de Andrade Alvarenga et al, 2021). Globally, 20–30% of pregnancies result in miscarriage (Meaney et al, 2017), and in 2021, the global stillbirth rate was 23.0 per 1000 births at 20 weeks' gestation or later (Comfort et al, 2023). In 2021, more than 5000 babies per day were stillborn at 28 weeks or more, accounting for approximately 1.9 million stillbirths (Unicef, 2023).

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Abortion
Fetal death
Miscarriage
Mothers
Perception
Qualitative research
Systematic review