Childrenʼs Disturbed Reactions to their Motherʼs Miscarriage

Abstract

This clinical study, primarily using case material from child, adolescent, and adult psychiatric patients, emphasizes miscarriage as a potentially disruptive psychological event occurring within the complex interpersonal matrix of the family. Case material is used to illustrate immediate disturbed responses by children to their mother's miscarriage, as well as more enduring psychopathology attributable in part to childhood “miscarriage reactions.” Some typical elements of children's disturbed reactions to miscarriage are noted, then set in the larger context of expectant mothers' psychological responses to miscarriage and the often-neglected but highly significant reactions of expectant fathers. Both a child's direct response and those influenced by the intertwined reactions of the expectant parents are found to play a role in children's disturbed reactions to their mother's miscarriage.