Miscarriage : women's experiences and needs / Christine Moulder.

Previous ed.: London: Pandora, 1990.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 228-231) and index.

PART 1: The Miscarriage:- Jean\'s Story - part 1:- 1. \'Then i knew it was all over\'--realising you are miscarrying--The phase of uncertainty-- what should i do?-- Recognising the symptoms-- raised hopes-- the need for the miscarriage to be confirmed-- discovering you are miscarrying at a scan--The management of scans--2. \'Where\'s all the blood coming from?:- The physical process--The physical facts--Not knowing what to expect--Bleeding--Miscarriages that become medical emergencies--Pain--ERPC--Feelings bout the ERPC--When an ERPC can be avoided--Pregnancy loss with longer-term implications (Hydatidiform mole; ectopic pregnancy)--3. \'What did i lose?\':- Understanding what is lost--Asking about the loss--When there is no detus--When there is a fetus--Taking the loss to the hospital--4. \'I gave birth\': late miscarriage:- Missing the symptoms--Giving birth--Induced labour--It\'s a difficult labour--Knowing your baby--The importance of good management--Follow-up care--Special care--5. \'It was a baby to me\':- Definitions--The use of language--Early prenancy--The emotional reality--When it is not a baby--Implications--Disposal--Creating memories--naming and writing--Memorial service and memorial book--Other memorials--PART 2: The Medical Response:- 6. Miscarriage on the NHS:- The problem in context--Help from your GP when a miscarriage threatens--In hospital--Which ward?--The need for physical and psychological care--The need for information--The need for an explanation--Follow-up care--PART 3: After the Miscarriage:- Jean\'s story Part 2:-7. The physical aftermath:- The physical after-effects--When your milk comes in--Feeling low--Periods--Taking control of yourself--8. \'It\'s OK to grieve\': your emotional reaction:- The meaning of the miscarriage--Coming home from hospital--Your need to grieve--Expressing your grief--Not all women grieve--Depression--Feeling unable to cope--Guilt--The time-scale of grief--9. Sharing the miscarriage:- The power of others to help or hinder--Your needs--Sharing the experience with your partner--The experienceforyour partner--Men have feelings too--Mothers and mothers-in-law-- Friends--Support groups--Seeking help from professionals--PART 4: When it\'s more difficult:- 10. When it happens again...and again...and again: repeat miscarriage:- The impact of repeated miscarriage--The cause of repeated miscarriage--Treatment--The need for support and medical help--Taking the initiative--11. Added misery:- Difficulty getting pregnant again--Abortion--Severe depression--PART 5: Family, friends and wider world:- 12. Relationships with others:- The relationship with your partner--When you\'re in it together--The strain on your relationship--Sexual relationships--Resolving problems--Splitting up--Relationships with friends and family--Feelings about pregnant women and babies--Relationships with pregnant women--13. The world of work:- Telling your colleagues--Returning to work--When to return--Work helps--Ffinding work difficult--Longer-term implications--14. \'Mummy, where did that baby go?\': Children\'s understanding of and response to miscarriage:- When there is no need for them to know--When children know something is wrong--Deciding to tell a child--Explaining the miscarriage--Children\'s reactions--The implications for parents--The children you already have--PART 6: The way forward:- 15. \'It\'s never the same again\': the next pregnancy:- When to try again--The waiting time--When it takes time to conceive--Deciding not to try again--The next pregnancy--Feeling anxious--Coping with the anxiety--Medical care--A baby at last--Acceptance--Jean\'s story - part 3.

Approximately one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage but for each woman the experience is unique. This work explores the many different ways in which women physically experience miscarriage and emotionally react to it.