TOP TAKE-AWAYS: THE FATHERS' PERSPECTIVE

Serrano and Lima (2006) surveyed 30 couples to gain a better understanding of the impact of recurrent consecutive miscarriages on their relationship.  

• 90% of the couples were married and were in a relationship for an average of 6.66 years;  
• The average age of mothers was 31.73; the average age of fathers was 33.63;
• 76.7% of the couples reported 3 miscarriages, 20% reported 4; 1 couple reported 6 miscarriages;
• The couples in this study did not have living children and their most recent miscarriage occurred anywhere from three months to over one year prior to completing the survey.

Both partners answered questions about their grief, distress, relationship quality and sexuality following their most recent miscarriage.  

TOP TAKE-AWAYS: THINKING ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN

Callander, Brown,Tata, and Regan (2007) studied the thought processes of 62 women, between the ages of 24 and 44, who had expereinced recurrent miscarriages.

• The average age was 35; 
• The average number of miscarriages was 4.45;
• The average amount of time since the most recent miscarriage was 6.45 months; 
• 27 of the women had children and 35 did not have children; 
• 69.4% reported high levels of anxiety;  
• 33.9% reported high levels of depression.   

The study focused on counterfactual thinking, a common thought process after traumatic events.  

What is counterfactual thinking?  

TOP TAKE-AWAYS: SEARCHING FOR MEANING AFTER PREGNANCY LOSS

Ten women who had a miscarriage at age 35 or older were interviewed. The primary research question was: “How do women of advanced maternal age perceive and describe their experience of miscarriage?”