| 1. |
- Avelin, Pernilla, et al.
(författare)
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Adolescents' experiences of having a stillborn half-sibling
- 2013
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Ingår i: Death Studies. - : Routledge. - 0748-1187 .- 1091-7683. ; 38:9, s. 557-562
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although there is an increasing interest in siblings' experiences of loss and grief there is limited knowledge of adolescent's own perspectives, especially in a unique situation as after stillbirth in a reconstituted family. The authors interviewed 13 bereaved adolescents. They were sad that their family was not the same and expressed feelings of being inside family grief, yet outside, because they did not have full access in their reconstituted family. An implication of present findings is that it is important to include all the members of the family in the grieving process, even half-siblings of the deceased child.
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| 2. |
- Avelin, Pernilla, et al.
(författare)
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Make the stillborn baby and the loss real for the siblings : parents' advice on how the siblings of a stillborn baby can be supported
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Perinatal Education. - : Springer Publishing Company. - 1058-1243 .- 1548-8519. ; 21:2, s. 90-98
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aimed to investigate parents' advice to other parents on the basis of their own experiences of siblings' taking leave of a stillborn sister or brother. The study was a Web questionnaire study of 411 parents. The thematic content analysis resulted in two categories: "Make the stillborn baby and the loss real for the siblings" and "Take the siblings' resources and prerequisites into account." Parents' advised that siblings should see and hold the stillborn baby and, thus, be invited and included into the leave-taking process with respect to the siblings' feelings, resources, and prerequisites. Based on these findings, professional caregivers can usefully be proactive in their approach to facilitate and encourage the involvement of siblings.
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| 3. |
- Avelin, Pernilla, et al.
(författare)
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Parental grief and relationships after the loss of a stillborn baby
- 2013
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Ingår i: Midwifery. - : Elsevier BV. - 0266-6138 .- 1532-3099. ; 29:6, s. 668-673
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: to describe the grief of mothers and fathers and its influence on their relationships after the loss of a stillborn baby. DESIGN: a postal questionnaire at three months, one year and two years after stillbirth. SETTING: a study of mothers and fathers of babies stillborn during a one-year period in the Stockholm region of Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: 55 parents, 33 mothers and 22 fathers. FINDINGS: mothers and fathers stated that they became closer after the loss, and that the feeling deepened over the course of the following year. The parents said that they began grieving immediately as a gradual process, both as individuals, and together as a couple. During this grieving process their expectations, expressions and personal and joint needs might have threatened their relationship as a couple, in that they individually felt alone at this time of withdrawal. While some mothers and fathers had similar grieving styles, the intensity and expression of grief varied, and the effects were profound and unique for each individual. KEY CONCLUSIONS: experiences following a loss are complex, with each partner attempting to come to terms with the loss and the resultant effect on the relationship with their partner. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: anticipating and being able to acknowledge the different aspects of grief will enable professionals to implement more effective intervention in helping couples grieve both individually and together.
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| 4. |
- Avelin, Pernilla
(författare)
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Stillbirth : a loss for the whole family
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Stillbirth loss is a profound experience affecting around 450 families every year in Sweden. Method: Two questionnaires, one postal with three measurements over a two-year period with 55 parents (I), and a web questionnaire answered by 411 parents (III), five focus groups with a total of 25 parents (II), and individual face-to-face interviews with 13 bereaved adolescent siblings of a stillborn baby (IV) constitute the data collection. The qualitative data were analysed with a content analysis, descriptive statistics were used for the quantitative data. The overall aim of the thesis was to study the loss of a stillborn baby from the perspective of parents and siblings. Results: The parents strived to create an environment in which siblings are confidently allowed and invited to participate in processes surrounding the stillbirth. They promoted an understanding of the new and unexpected family situation. Some parents expressed difficulty in focusing on the needs of siblings during the acute grief after the loss. Most of the siblings met their stillborn sister or brother. The meeting was described as natural, enriching and self-evident and as an important component to create understanding; it attributed identity and personality to the stillborn baby. When the siblings created memories the baby was acknowledged and took on a tangible form. Furthermore, parents and siblings expressed feelings of broken expectations of becoming a larger family. Additionally, being a sister or brother of a stillborn baby brought up thoughts about the sibling relationship, and whether they could still identify themselves as big sisters or brothers. Many parents reported the loss had strengthened their relationship. Some parents and adolescent siblings expressed that they were grieving alone as well as together with other members of the family. They developed an inner strength and a trust in each other. For others, expectations of their own and other family members ́ way of grieving could pose a threat to their close relationship; a lack of understanding for each other ́s way to express grief or their needs could create an emotional distance. Some adolescents expressed feelings of being part of a common grief in the family, but simultaneously being outside. The loss of their baby sibling implied a temporary loss of their parents ́ parenthood. Conclusions: This thesis gives new information on the thoughts and feelings in a family after they have experienced a stillbirth. Clinically the information can be used to help health-care professionals communicate with parents and siblings after this event. For parents seeking advice, it may help to know that the parents in this study, who actively involved the stillborn baby ́s siblings in the meeting and farewell afterwards, by and large reported encouraging experiences only.
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| 5. |
- Avelin, Pernilla, et al.
(författare)
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Swedish parents' experiences of parenthood and the need for support to siblings when a baby is stillborn
- 2011
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Ingår i: Birth. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0730-7659 .- 1523-536X. ; 38:2, s. 150-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: It has been argued that having a stillborn baby in the family affects older siblings more than parents realize. The aim of this study was to describe parenthood and the needs of siblings after stillbirth from the parents' perspective.METHODS: Six focus groups were held with 27 parents who had experienced a stillbirth and who had had children before the loss. The discussion concerned parents' support to the siblings, and the sibling's meeting, farewell, and memories of their little sister or brother. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.RESULTS: The overall theme of the findings was parenthood in a balance between grief and everyday life. In the analysis, three categories emerged that described the construction of the theme: support in an acute situation, sharing the experiences within the family, and adjusting to the situation.CONCLUSIONS: The siblings' situation is characterized by having a parent who tries to maintain a balance between grief and everyday life. Parents are present and engaged in joint activities around the stillbirth together with the siblings of the stillborn baby. Although parents are aware of the sibling's situation, they feel that they are left somewhat alone in their parenthood after stillbirth and therefore need support and guidance from others.
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