Abstract

Decades of decline in uptake rates of perinatal autopsies has limited investigation into the causes and risk factors for stillbirth. We interviewed parents to explore how they decide whether to go through with a perinatal autopsy (an examination to identify the cause of death of their baby) or not. We spoke with ten parents from a large tertiary maternity hospital in Cork Ireland who had experienced antepartum (before childbirth begins) and intrapartum (during childbirth) stillbirths, and who had either consented or declined autopsy. Four themes describe the factors that influenced parents’ decision-making. Parents who experienced antepartum stillbirths were more likely to consent. These parents had more time for meaning-making; those consenting wanted to rule out self-blame and were fearful about future pregnancies. Parents who declined autopsy wanted to protect their infant from further harm. Parents’ knowledge and understanding of the autopsy itself were acquired primarily from public discourse. Parents’ decision-making was profoundly affected by their emotional response to stillbirth; clinicians and other health professionals may play a key role, especially if they can address parental concerns regarding the invasiveness of the autopsy procedure.