Despite the advancement of thanatological research, stillbirth remains one of the most disenfranchised and under-researches types of losses. This study aims to examine (1) a historicultural and phenomenological perspective on stillbirth based on a thorough review of the literature from macro, mezzo, and micro perspectives and (2) to assess factors affecting both the mothers’ probability of seeing and holding her child and her risk for severe symptoms of anxiety and depression. This paper will also propose a new theoretical construct, the Multidimensional Integrative Stillbirth Systems (MISS) Model, useful for mapping the experience of stillbirth within many contexts at the macro, mezzo, and micro levels and helpful in understanding how those ultimately interact with and affect the individual woman
