Abstract

This paper presents findings from research carried out in Northern Ireland on the experiences of parents who have lost a baby through stillbirth or miscarriage. The research was based on interviews and group observations with men and women who were members of pregnancy loss self-help groups. The paper will draw on an interpretative perspective based on Habermas’s (1987) theory of communicative action to explore the ways in which membership of self-help groups enabled parents to cope with the pain of personal grief after a pregnancy loss. It was found that self-help groups provided a supportive communicative forum in which grieving parents could share their own stories and find support within a community of peers. These findings have clear implications for those working with and through self-help groups, and who are concerned to ensure the efficacy of the limited resources available for this kind of support.

Available Versions of this Item

• Exploring Narratives of Pregnancy Loss: the role of self-help groups in supporting parents. (deposited 17 Feb 2010 14:59) [Currently Displayed]
  • Exploring Narratives of Pregnancy Loss: the role of self-help groups in supporting parents. (deposited 03 Oct 2012 11:16)