The grieving process after perinatal loss has unique properties. This qualitative study examines one aspect of the grieving process: continuing bonds experienced by the mothers. We offer an interpretative phenomenological analysis of interviews with 15 Italian mothers. Three main relevant themes emerged: “continuing bonds between externalized and internalized presence,” “a difficult guilt to manage,” and “relationships are crucial support systems.” The first one illustrates the ongoing connections to the deceased on the part of mothers and siblings, the second one explores a fixation on finding the cause of the death and related feelings of guilt, while the third one describes the mothers’ process of elaboration of the event, especially with the support of the husband and the community. The findings highlight unique qualities of continuing bonds after perinatal loss and factors that might influence mother’s griefwork, while also suggesting that psychodrama and art therapy could be useful in the management of this kind of loss.

中文翻译：

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围产期悲伤中的社会支持和母亲的持续纽带：与意大利哀悼者的定性研究

围产期丧失后的悲痛过程具有独特的性质。这项定性研究考察了悲伤过程的一个方面：母亲所经历的持续纽带。我们提供了对 15 位意大利母亲的访谈的解释性现象学分析。出现了三个主要的相关主题：“外在和内在存在之间的持续联系”、“难以管理的内疚”和“关系是至关重要的支持系统”。第一个描述了母亲和兄弟姐妹与死者的持续联系，第二个探讨了寻找死因和相关内疚感的执着，而第三个描述了母亲详细阐述死亡原因的过程。事件，特别是在丈夫和社区的支持下。