Men’s Reactions to a Miscarriage

Following the loss of a baby the emotional needs of the father may be at times overlooked. Fathers may also be experiencing a wide range of feelings: feeling responsible and protective towards their partner, wanting to provide protection from this painful experience and sometimes feeling powerless and excluded. Fathers may be unsure of how to provide comfort and sometimes struggle to imagine what their partner is feeling.

Often in the early days the father may feel he needs to stay strong and not let out all his feelings. He may have to tell family and friends of the death of the baby. His link to the baby is different from the mother’s, less physical and immediate. His feelings of sadness and disappointment may be just as strong, although he may grieve differently to the mother. It is a time when partners need to support each other and accept their different ways of grieving.


Last reviewed: 25/12/24