Milk Donation Following a Perinatal Loss: A Phenomenological Study

Introduction Perinatal loss is a traumatic event for women with negative consequences for their well‐being and mental health. After perinatal loss, some women choose to not suppress lactation and to donate their breast milk. Donating milk can be a grief ritual to cope with the loss. The aim of this...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of midwifery & women's health 2022-07, Vol.67 (4), p.463-469
Main Authors: Fernández‐Medina, Isabel María, Jiménez‐Lasserrotte, María del Mar, Ruíz‐Fernández, María Dolores, Granero‐Molina, José, Fernández‐Sola, Cayetano, Hernández‐Padilla, José Manuel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Breastfeeding & lactation
Donations
Grief
Healing
Health care
Medical personnel
Mental health
Milk
milk donation
Motivation
Pain
Perinatal
perinatal loss
Phenomenology
Qualitative research
Rituals
Stillbirth
Taboos
Traumatic life events
Women
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Summary:Introduction Perinatal loss is a traumatic event for women with negative consequences for their well‐being and mental health. After perinatal loss, some women choose to not suppress lactation and to donate their breast milk. Donating milk can be a grief ritual to cope with the loss. The aim of this study was to explore women's experiences of donating their breast milk following a perinatal loss. Methods A hermeneutic phenomenology was carried out. Thirteen semistructured interviews were conducted. Data was recorded, transcribed, and categorized into themes and subthemes. Results Two main themes emerged from the data: (1) lactation after loss: a forgotten aspect of the care, with the subthemes “the silence surrounding grieving lactation” and “experiencing lactation amidst a sea of tears”; and (2) milk donation: a resource to alleviate pain and offer hope, with the subthemes “expressing and donating breast milk: a healing ritual” and “breaking the taboo of the grieving lactation.” Discussion Information about lactation options is not typically included in participants’ care plan. Women's experiences highlight the need for the support of health care professionals. Donating milk helps some women to cope with the loss and accept and integrate it into their daily lives. Milk donation is also an opportunity to educate society about options following a perinatal loss.
ISSN:1526-9523
1542-2011
DOI:10.1111/jmwh.13342