Women's Experience of Miscarriage: A qualitative study

Abstract

Physicians lack knowledge on how to help women who have miscarried deal with their emotional distress. We interviewed 16 women 4 and 12 weeks after a miscarriage. The women described their experience of miscarriage and perceptions of what helped or hindered their emotional recovery, particularly physicians' actions. A grief reaction that can be divided into five stages and that was modified through the support of family and friends was identified. The intensity of the grief was related to the personal meaning of the pregnancy.