When Death Is Present at Birth: Women's Experiences During Pregnancy

Current scientific literature confirms that pregnancy following perinatal bereavement is a period of significant psychological vulnerability. Quantitative research highlights a high prevalence of anxiety disorders, depressive symptoms, and post-traumatic stress among these mothers. However, there is a significant gap between somatic medical monitoring-which has become highly effective-and an understanding of these women's subjective experiences. Data regarding the restructuring of prenatal attachment and "psychic transparency" in this context of traumatic aftermath remain extremely scarce. The purpose of this research is therefore to fill this gap by exploring, through a phenomenological approach, how the bond with the unborn child is formed when death occurred during the previous birth.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Women aged 18 or older 2. Medically confirmed ongoing pregnancy: at least 14 weeks of amenorrhea (SA), or at least 12 weeks of gestation, 3. Receiving psychological counseling during the current pregnancy 4. History of a perinatal loss as defined by the WHO (between 22 weeks of amenorrhea (SA) and the 7th day of life) during a previous pregnancy 5. Ability to understand the information and sign an informed consent form 6. Sufficient proficiency in French to participate in an interview 7. Consent given for the audio recording of the interview Exclusion Criteria: 1. Serious obstetric complications in the current pregnancy (severe threat of preterm labor requiring hospitalization, preeclampsia, severe intrauterine growth restriction) or any maternal/fetal condition that is life-threatening in the short term. 2. Severe or unstable psychiatric disorders (psychotic disorder) that may impair judgment or pose a risk of decompensation. 3. A full-blown depressive episode or an ongoing suicidal crisis. 4. A patient under guardianship, conservatorship, or judicial protection.