Silent grief: A qualitative study on the emotional and social impact of early gestational loss

Abstract

Early gestational loss is a common event, yet its emotional and social impact is often underestimated. From the earliest weeks of pregnancy, many women develop a psychological bond with the baby and an emerging maternal identity. When miscarriage occurs, the loss is often perceived as the death of a child rather than a minor clinical episode, resulting in disenfranchised grief. This study aims to understand the emotional and social experiences of women following early gestational loss.