| This exploratory, primarily qualitative study focuses on the bereavement process of women who have terminated desired pregnancies after the discovery of a fetal anomaly. Thirty intensive interviews, including administration of the Perinatal Grief Scale (Potvin, Lasker, & Toedter, 1989) were conducted with women, some using the evolving methodology of e-mail. The availability of formal and informal support resources is a focus. Using the ecological perspective, social forces, medical systems, friends' and partners' support, and the woman's emotional responses are analyzed. Conceptually, the intersection of “feeling rules,” the development of high-tech reproductive diagnostic technologies, disability in the U.S., the stigma of abortion and the “conception” of the entity in the womb are all areas of focus.; Findings include mythic expectations that lead pregnant women to expect that “following the rules” of prenatal care and testing will ensure a positive outcome. The depth of prenatal bonding, the difficulty of grief under conditions of decision-making and isolation, the need for comprehensive health services, and the need for non-polarizing language for the fetus are found within this research. The social justice issue of urging prenatal testing and then stigmatizing the only medical treatment response (termination for anomaly) is analyzed. Implications for social work advocacy and practice, as well as social change are considered. |
