Table of Contents

The story of the research. Background. Stained glass windows: stillbirth memories and their impact on midwives. The silent womb: perceptions of death and midwives’ responses. A stillbirth was given to me today: professional pressures, conflict and perceived roles. Communicating with the mother: an emotional labour. Taking the blame and feeling the guilt. Listen to me, for we all need a degree of closure. Independent midwives’ responses to stillbirths and neonatal deaths. Making sense of experiences around stillbirth. Loss in midwifery: the wider context and ways forward

The story of the research; Background; Stained glass windows: stillbirth memories and their impact on midwives; The silent womb: perceptions of death and midwives' responses; A stillbirth was given to me today: professional pressures, conflict and perceived roles; Communicating with the mother: an emotional labour; Taking the blame and feeling the guilt; Listen to me, for we all need a degree of closure; Independent midwives' responses to stillbirths and neonatal deaths; Making sense of experiences around stillbirth; Loss in midwifery: the wider context and ways forward

About the Author

Doreen Kenworthy, Mavis Kirkham