Approximately one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage but for each woman the experience is unique. This sympathetic and helpful book explores the many different ways in which women physically experience miscarriage and emotionally react to it. Drawing on the experiences of over 350 women, it will help every woman who has miscarried make sense of her loss and find her own way of coping with the confusion that frequently follows. Many aspects of miscarriage are covered including difficult issues that are often avoided: * the nature of the loss: tissue, embryo, foetus or baby? * guilt about an earlier abortion * explaining miscarriage to other children * the effect of miscarriage on a relationship * returning to work after miscarriage * coping with repeated miscarriages. The text also provides a set of guidelines to good practice for professionals, based on what women say they find helpful. Professionals who want to evaluate their own practice or develop the service they offer will find this an invaluable reference.