‘Yes!—A Chance to Tell My Side of the Story’: A Case Study of a Male Partner of a Woman Undergoing Termination of Pregnancy for Foetal Abnormality

The importance of the male role, management of his own particular needs and coping mechanisms are discussed in the context of society’s expectations and current thinking on grief counselling.

Abstract

Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyse data from one man whose partner underwent a third-trimester termination of pregnancy for foetal abnormality. This case study examines the data from the participant and aspects of grief are examined qualitatively from a male perspective. The importance of the male role, management of his own particular needs and coping mechanisms are discussed in the context of society's expectations and current thinking on grief counselling. The impact of a new technique in obstetric management is highlighted in this case.