Coping with Miscarriage

By: Jessica KleiserProfessor Dube

Advanced General Psychology | PSY 492 UAFebruary 25, 2011

Introduction

Women suffer from having miscarriages at all different ages leaving them broken and

bruised unsure of infertility. Although women suffer tragically so can the father of that baby and the family around them. It is

not an easy diagnosis to deal with and through out this paper we will be trying to

find out how it affects each and every person together as a whole as well as

separate.

Facts

“Results suggest not only gender differences in chosen coping strategies, but also differences between women

depending on the type of loss experienced (i.e., miscarriage or stillbirth)” (McGreal, 1997). “While men

tended to worry, use social support, and ignore the situation, women were more likely to seek spiritual support, use tension reduction and wishful thinking,

and seek support from others who had experienced the same loss. A tendency to use self-blame was also

evident in the responses of the female Ss, in particular women who had suffered a miscarriage”

(McGreal,1997). Due to the fact that couples do not know how to communicate their feelings they tend to

break away from each other looking for support wherever they can find it.

Facts

“A qualitative approach, employing an in-depth interview technique was utilized to obtain the data. The paper focuses on the coping strategies, social support and satisfaction with health care among the women and their partners. Factors such as treatment by medical personnel and family and friends were identified as

either helping or hindering the experience” (Abboud, 2005). It would seem that although personnel, family, and friends do help the coping process they can also

make it harder. This could be simply because they are always asking if you are ok or if there is anything they

could do. Our family and friends are always there for us even though sometimes it may not seem like they are

making it any easier. Keeping in mind their best interests as well as our own is the best thing that can

be done for everyone.

Input

The loss of a child could be something that a woman never recovers from making drastic movements in order to try and move on. For example, becoming pregnant again. There are many different feelings and emotions going into an event like this and it can be a very confusing time that we shouldn’t

rush into anything big. Taking our time to deal with what we just went through is one of the only ways

for a woman to heal from their experience. Although we are able to move on we are never

able to replace a child and no woman should try by doing so it could turn into an even bigger

heartache and tragedy.

Conclusion

Experiencing a miscarriage is not something that is easy for anyone whether it be the mother of the baby or a family member.

Although there are many different ways of coping without the proper support and mind

frame it can be very hard to work past. It may take time for them to become

comfortable in telling their story but when that time comes it will help them move on

and become stronger individuals.

What does the future hold?

Due to the fact that there is no way possible way to stop miscarriages from taking place all together we should at least have a solid

method for recovering. Men and women deal with situations differently as we have found out above but if psychologist could come up with one coping strategy to be

taught around the world people may heal faster. Later making the misfortune a

positive learning experience.

Strengths Vs. Weaknesses

o Being a stronger person

o Seeing what you can and can’t handle

o Moving on and providing better for yourself (depending on the cause)

o Learning new coping while making new family and friends

o Suffering depression

o Falling away from your significant other

o Losing the capability of ever having children

o Always reflecting on the past and what could have been instead of concentrating on the present/future

References:

Abboud, L. Liamputtong, P. (2005). When Pregnancy fails: Coping strategies, support networks and experiences with health care of ethnic women and their partners. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology23.1: 3-18. Retrieved from:

http://wf2dnvr6.webfeat.org/yzveP16915/url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/216081558/abstract?accountid=34899

McGreal, Diane, Evans, Barry J. Burrows, Graham D. (1997). Gender differences in coping following loss of a child through miscarriage or stillbirth: A pilot study.Stress Medicine13.3: 159-165. Retrieved from:

http://wf2dnvr6.webfeat.org/qvzeP1474/url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/619085441/abstract?accountid=34899