Social support needs of bereaved parents and family members after perinatal loss: A qualitative study

Perinatal loss is a profoundly distressing experience for many families. While family and friends are often primary sources of informal support for bereaved parents, they may find it challenging to provide the support parents need. This study explores the social support experiences of parents and family members navigating perinatal bereavement in Australia with their informal social networks, drawing on semi-structured interviews with 20 parents and 5 family members. Reflexive thematic analysis identified three themes, along with seven sub-themes reflecting how informal support was enacted, negotiated, and experienced across interpersonal and social contexts. By integrating the Interaction Model of Informal Social Support following Bereavement (IM-ISSB) and Compassionate Communities approach, the findings illuminate relational dynamics, unmet needs and opportunities to strengthen perinatal loss grief literacy. Overall, the findings reinforce that supporting families after perinatal loss is a shared community responsibility requiring sustained commitment to compassion and grief education.