[Grief work an support experienced during abortion and stillbirth].

We investigated by means of a semi-structured, oral interview how women cope with a miscarriage or stillbirth. The need for psychosocial support and the support which was experienced were also studied. The results stress that the mourning process after a miscarriage or stillbirth proceeds in one sense like the 'conventional' mourning process, but differs in some aspects. Women with one or more children show less intense emotions than childless women. The experiences with the professional help and the environmental support differ depending on the moment: before, during or after the bereavement. Negative experiences usually refer to a too businesslike attitude of doctors and nurses in charge, lack of information, shortcomings in the aftercare, clumsy reactions of the environment and unfulfilled needs for contact with other women who had a miscarriage or stillbirth.