Tanner's story: a phenomenologic stance towards newborn death.

A phenomenologic stance is explored as a perspective from which to develop personal knowledge for nursing with families experiencing perinatal loss. The author's experience of newborn death is analyzed using van Manen's existential themes. An essential theme--validating motherhood--emerges from an analysis based on van Manen's lifeworld existential themes. Phenomenologic reflection is presented as a path to self-understanding and reflection, which may inform personal knowledge for nursing practice and the relationships nurses nurture with families.