Women's perceptions of first trimester spontaneous abortion

Abstract

Fifteen to twenty percent of all pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion. For many women, this loss is nearly the equivalent of the loss of a real baby. To explore the complexity of women's responses to spontaneous abortion, nine women were given a questionnaire to complete regarding experiences and behaviors at the time of the miscarriage. The data revealed that each woman was affected, to some degree, by her experience with a spontaneous abortion. A comprehensive psychologic approach to this special client is needed to help more effectively the woman who aborts in the first trimester cope with the very real loss of an infant.