Giving birth to life--again!: bereaved parents' experiences with children born following the death of an adult son.
This article is based on a qualitative study examining the experiences of parents that lost a son during military service in Israel and consequently choose to give birth to another child. Seven couples and 3 mothers were interviewed for the study, and their interviews were analyzed using a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Three main themes were extracted from parents' descriptions of their experiences: (a) "From the place where pain and sadness was sown, a new smile was grown," relating to transforming the experience of loss into a new meaning for life; (b) "No to a child memorial," focusing on parents' awareness of the burden placed on the child who was born; and (c) "Different parenting," dealing with participant's parenting following their loss. The study's findings are discussed in the context of literature dealing with reconstructing meaning through coping and bereavement.
School of Social Work, Ariel University Center, Ariel, Israel. razizik@bezeqint.net.il
Yaira
Y
Hamama-Raz
Welfare Department Mathe Benjamin, Psagot, Israel.
Sarah
S
Rosenfeld
School of Social Work, Haifa University, Haifa, Israel.
Eli
E
Buchbinder
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D032721:Adult Children / Q000523:psychology*; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001601:Bereavement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult