Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Among U. S. Cultural Groups

Death rituals are a universal feature of every human culture, and infant death is a common experience. This text seeks to fill a gap in literature by reviewing existing literature and interviewing clinicians and caregivers across many disciplines. It provides a history and theoretical basis for perinatal death rituals, an overview of common beliefs and practices in major US religious and cultural groups, and a practical how-to guide for health care providers to support families through rituals that fit their personal values and needs.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 380 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2024
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

Death rituals are a universal feature of every human culture across the world. Every human must eventually face the stark reality of death, and many cultures and religions have sought to make sense of death and bring solace to the people through bereavement rituals. Infant death has been commonplace in most of human history. Despite the high prevalence of pregnancy loss (25% of all pregnancies) and infant death (0.6% of liveborn infants), these deaths are rarely discussed openly. The parents' grief often is underestimated or ignored by their social network, who may never have met the baby and/or feel uncomfortable discussing the loss of a child. On the other hand, the families enduring perinatal loss experience profound grief, loss of the actual and imagined future for that child, and the baby is never forgotten. Thus, parents seek to have their baby remembered through the creation of keepsakes, memories, and rituals. Having a supportive environment that honors their loss and their child's memory and helps to facilitate meaningful rituals can have a profound effect on their long-term bereavement. There is a large amount of literature on death rituals across cultures, but most books include infants only briefly and miscarried or stillborn babies are not mentioned at all. This text seeks to fill this substantial gap through review of existing literature paired with dozens of interviews with clinicians and caregivers across many disciplines in the hospital and community as well as bereaved family members who have gone through perinatal loss.

The authors recruited in Bereavement Rituals after Pregnancy Loss or Infant Death across U.S. Cultures are a broad group of experts that include clinicians in palliative care and perinatal bereavement, nurses and clergy from different religious traditions, social workers, psychologists, and anthropologists. The authors conducted interviews with clinicians and caregivers in hospitals and community settings, as well as bereaved family members who had experienced perinatal loss. The interviews aimed to explore the various bereavement rituals practiced by different cultures and religions, as well as the impact of these rituals on the grieving process.

One of the key findings of the study was that there is a significant variation in the bereavement rituals practiced across different cultures and religions. For example, some cultures prioritize burial or cremation, while others emphasize memorialization through the creation of keepsakes or the planting of trees. Some religions have specific rituals for infant death, such as baptism or naming ceremonies, while others do not have any specific rituals.

Another important finding of the study was that the bereavement rituals practiced by families can have a profound impact on their long-term bereavement. For example, families who participate in meaningful rituals that honor their child's memory and legacy tend to experience less depression and anxiety over time. These rituals can also help families to find meaning and purpose in their loss, which can be a significant source of healing.

However, the study also highlighted the challenges that families face when it comes to practicing bereavement rituals. For example, some families may feel pressure to adhere to cultural or religious norms that do not align with their own beliefs or preferences. Additionally, families who experience perinatal loss may face social stigma or discrimination, which can make it difficult for them to seek support and participate in bereavement rituals.

The study also noted that there is a need for more research on the bereavement rituals practiced by different cultures and religions, as well as the impact of these rituals on the grieving process. This research could help to inform the development of more effective interventions and support for families who are experiencing perinatal loss.

In conclusion, death rituals are a universal feature of every human culture across the world, and every human must eventually face the stark reality of death. Many cultures and religions have sought to make sense of death and bring solace to the people through bereavement rituals. Infant death has been commonplace in most of human history, and despite the high prevalence of pregnancy loss and infant death, these deaths are rarely discussed openly. The bereavement rituals practiced by families can have a profound impact on their long-term bereavement, but there are also challenges that families face when it comes to practicing these rituals. More research is needed to better understand the bereavement rituals practiced by different cultures and religions, as well as the impact of these rituals on the grieving process. By doing so, we can work to develop more effective interventions and support for families who are experiencing perinatal loss.

Weight: 741g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031472022
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023