The Right to Grieve: Norwegian Women’s Experiences of Care During Termination of Pregnancy in Second Trimester

This study examines women’s experiences of interacting with healthcare professionals after receiving serious prenatal information around gestational week 18 and through subsequent late pregnancy loss, including termination of pregnancy, intrauterine foetal death, or miscarriage. It focuses on medical guidance, emotional support, and post-birth care. A qualitative descriptive design was used. Five Norwegian women participated in individual in-depth interviews, providing insight into encounters with healthcare professionals across the care trajectory. Their experiences unfolded across four key moments: learning about the diagnosis, making a decision, giving birth, and leaving the hospital. Care was experienced as fragmented, intensifying emotional distress and uncertainty. Shifts between clinical and emotionally attuned language created cognitive dissonance, leading the women to question the legitimacy of their grief and maternal identity. These findings highlight the need for coordinated psychosocial and medical care that acknowledges maternal identity and affirms women’s right to grieve.