Waiting in no-man’s-land – Mothers’ experiences before the induction of labour after their baby has died in utero

Abstract

Objective Carrying death instead of life is beyond understanding and a huge psychological challenge for a pregnant mother. The aim of this study was to investigate the mothers’ experiences of the time from the diagnosis of the death of their unborn baby until induction of labour. Method In this qualitative study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 mothers whose babies had died prior to birth. The interviews were then analysed using content analysis. Results The overall theme that emerged from the mothers’ experiences is understood as “waiting in no-man’s-land”, describing the feeling of being set aside from normality and put into an area which is unrecognized. Four categories were established: ‘involuntary waiting’ describes the sense of being left without information about what is to come; ‘handling the unimaginable’ concerns the confusing state of finding oneself in the worst-case scenario and yet having to deal with the birth; ‘broken expectations’ is about the loss not only of the baby but also of future family life; and ‘courage to face life’ describes the determination to go on and face reality. Conclusions The mother’s experiences during the time after the information of their baby’s death in utero until the induction of labour can be understood as a sense of being in no-man’s-land, waiting without knowing for what or for how long.