SOUZA, Samara Cristian Alves de Jesus; DEUS, Thaynanellyffer Thyellyffer Lopes Ribeiro de; FURTADO, Thalita Meneses da Silva
Abstract:
The loss of a child in the postnatal period constitutes an experience of intense
maternal suffering, marked by significant emotional, psychological, and social
impacts. This study investigates how individual, cultural, and social factors influence
maternal grief, as well as the role of coping strategies, support networks, and
humanized hospital care in the re-signification of this experience. The research isqualitative, exploratory, and descriptive, based on a systematic literature review that
includes recent publications and classical works on grief, psychotherapy, and
maternal-infant health policies. The results reveal that postnatal loss causes profound
pain, feelings of guilt, emptiness, changes in maternal identity, and social isolation—
often rendered invisible by society. Psychotherapeutic support, empathic listening,
family involvement, and participation in bereaved mothers’ groups are shown to be
essential for the elaboration of grief and for the construction of symbolic memories of
the child. It is concluded that humanized care, combined with emotional support
strategies, is fundamental for the re-signification of pain and the reconstruction of
maternal identity.
