A father's grief: dealing with stillbirth.
In the end each person's experience of stillbirth is unique. There is no right or wrong way to grieve and each person defines it uniquely (Pilkington, 1993). My own experiences have shown me that it is important for the father to be strong and to take responsibility for what needs to be done, yet acknowledge his grief. My wife and child were the most important people at that time, and while I needed to grieve, I felt I could do it only my way, and at a time when I felt I had completed my initial responsibilities. I do not feel guilty about being strong, nor do I feel guilty about being weak. I do feel bad about being too proud and not seeking more support from groups set up specifically to help parents. Three years down the track, I still miss my daughter and still think of her. I have another child, who can never replace Angel, and when she grows up, she, too, will learn about her older sister.
O'Neill
B
B
School of Occupation & Leisure Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012380:Role; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology