RESEARCH THE EXPERIENCES OF MOTHERS WHO LOST A BABY DURING PREGNANCY

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of mothers who lost a baby during pregnancy and care given by doctors and midwives during this period. To realise this goal the researcher followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual approach. Data were collected by using in-depth unstructured interviews. The interviews were taped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed through open coding. Data were collected until saturation had occurred. All mothers who were interviewed described their experiences of the loss of a baby during pregnancy. Some shared the same experiences and others did not. In the findings of this research, it became clear that mothers with the loss of a baby during pregnancy had experienced hardships and difficult times during this period. They expressed the wish that people acknowledge their loss, be considerate, sensitive, and give them a listening ear and emotional support. On the other hand, mothers identified the inability of health workers to give them the appropriate support. OPSOMMING Die doel van die studie was om die ervaring van moeders met betrekking tot die dood van ‘n baba tydens swangerskap te verken en te beskryf, asook die versorging wat hulle van vroedvroue en dokters gedurende die periode ontvang het. Die doel is bereik deur ‘n kwalitatiewe, verkennende, beskrywende en kontekstuele ontwerp te volg. Data is ingesamel deur middel van in-diepte onderhoude. Die onderhoude is op band opgeneem en verbatim getranskribeer. Data is deur middel van oop kodering geanaliseer. Data is versamel totdat versadiging bereik is. Al die moeders met wie onderhoude gevoer is het hulle ervarings van die verlies tydens swangerskap beskryf. Sommige het dieselfde ervarings gehad en ander nie. Dit was duidelik in die bevindinge van die navorsing dat moeders wat die verlie