Grief Counselling: A Soothing Balm for Bereaved Mothers

Background: Maternal grief has long been recognised as the most profound and unique of all grief, especially when a mother loses a young child. Knowing the cause of death is one way of beginning a long journey towards healing. Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) is a procedure used to determine the cause of death. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted at Chris Hani Baragwaneth Academic Hospital, Soweto, South Africa to understand bereaved mothers’ experiences of grief counselling after consenting to MITS conducted on their deceased children. Ten Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were conducted with bereaved mothers (ages 18-32 years old) who had consented to the MITS procedure. Results: The study revealed that bereaved mothers experienced profound psychological and emotional distress following the death of a child, with dominant themes of pain, trauma, hopelessness, and self-blame. Mothers described their grief as overwhelming, prolonged, and physically and emotionally debilitating—often likening it to being choked or dying inside. Those who experienced Caesarean births or multiple child losses reported intensified suffering, and some resorted to harmful coping mechanisms such as alcohol use or expressed suicidal ideation. The sudden and traumatic nature of child loss left many in shock, disbelief, and existential despair, compounded by feelings of frustration, denial, and internalised blame. Despite these challenges, grief counselling emerged as a critical source of emotional relief and healing. Mothers reported that counselling, especially when integrated with prayer, provided comfort, strength, and a renewed sense of hope and coping. The sessions fostered spiritual connection, emotional reassurance, and the ability to begin envisioning a path forward. Many participants expressed appreciation for the emotional support received and reported diminished guilt and a greater sense of acceptance. These findings underscore the urgent need to integrate culturally and spiritually sensitive grief counselling into routine healthcare services for bereaved mothers. Conclusion: The findings from this study revealed that long-term professional grief counselling is an urgent intervention that should be offered at the primary healthcare level. As a recommendation, grief counselling should be included in the healthcare systems as a standard of care for those who are bereaved and failing to cope.