Healthcare professionals can powerfully influence how women experience pregnancy loss. However, such professionals often work with professional and cultural assumptions of how women should respond to pregnancy loss and fail to provide their patients with sensitive and appropriate emotional care. In this study, the authors used Charmaz' constructionist grounded theory, a qualitative approach, to generate and analyze interviews of eight participants with different familial and socioeconomic backgrounds. It was found that the meaning that the pregnancy had for women varied according to the different familial and socioeconomic systems within which they operate. The meaning of the pregnancy not only determined the meaning of the pregnancy loss, but also impacted on the participants' emotional needs at the time of loss. Feelings about pregnancy loss ranged from feelings of devastation to relief.

Misunderstandings concerning expected and perceived support and expectations about how to grieve at the time of pregnancy loss have the potential to create stress within a partner dyad. Audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews, with eight women from varying contexts, were transcribed and analysed using Charmaz' grounded theory in this qualitative study. Voices of these participants express their perceptions regarding the support they feel they did, or did not receive at this time. Some women were unable to turn to their partners due to existing relationship problems. Many women were able to tum to their partners, but some found that support was not sustained. Women appear to want emotional support from their male partners. When this is not forthcoming, they may perceive their partners' support as negative or lacking. Potential areas of conflict are highlighted and suggestions are made regarding helpful informational support from health professionals.