Workplace experience of parents coping with perinatal loss: A scoping review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Perinatal loss affects many parents in the workforce. Yet, current knowledge about their workplace experience while facing this difficult event is sparse. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to review and synthesize the extent of scientific literature on the specific experiences of workers coping with perinatal loss and the resulting bereavement. METHODS: A scoping review was carried out using eight different databases. A total of 15 references, all using a qualitative methodology, were identified. Most of the references focused on the experience of mothers and on late perinatal loss (from the 20th week of pregnancy). RESULTS: All references highlighted the taboo and the non-recognition of perinatal grief and bereavement in both organizational practices and interpersonal relationships with colleagues and immediate supervisors. They also emphasized the difficulties associated with returning to work after the loss and the significant changes in the meaning attributed to work. CONCLUSIONS: While the studies included in this review clearly indicate that perinatal loss can affect working life, larger, quantitative studies are needed to quantify this phenomenon and its impact on employees and their organizations.

Employment leave for early pregnancy endings: A biopolitical reproductive governance analysis in England and Wales

“…A bereavement discourse is also found in the recent Women's Health Strategy for England (Department of Health and Social Care, 2022). Bereavement often frames the social science research about pregnancy ending in the workplace in different national contexts (Hazen, 2003; Keep et al., 2021; Meunier et al., 2021). The widespread prevalence of this truth discourse is an example of reproductive governance, which makes some strategies of intervention more possible than others.…”