The Variety of Emotional Reactions to Miscarriage

Abstract

The theme that emotions following miscarriage are more varied and less uniformly negative than accounts imply is examined through a review of popular and professional literature and evidence from sixty-five women who had had spontaneous abortions who were interviewed about their experiences and emotions. Emotions remembered from immediately following the miscarriage were sadness, frustration, disappointment, and anger towards themselves. At the interview time, about four months after the miscarriage, the most common emotions were hopefulness, sadness, and happiness. Implications for health care and research are discussed.