Miscarriage can no longer be regarded as a minor matter by either health professionals or the lay community

Australian study report

And, finding both deeply affected by what had happened, they accused the medical profession of treating it too lightly.

Only one-third of the women and even fewer of their partners were asked by health professionals how they were coping with the miscarriage.

Women in particular described feelings of loss up to four months after the miscarriage.

The report, published in the British Journal of Medical Psychology, said: "Miscarriage can no longer be regarded as a minor matter by either health professionals or the lay community.

"Although there is no indication in the present sample that relationships suffered as a result of the miscarriage, findings indicate that there is a need for health professionals to legitimize the grief of both women and partners and where appropriate offering counselling or referral."

It adds: "After a miscarriage the father's feelings are rarely given consideration because of the assumption they do not bond with the unborn child."

A miscarriage is defined as a pregnancy which ends spontaneously before the unborn child is sufficiently developed to survive outside the womb.

At the moment, babies can in theory survive if born approximately at or beyond the 24th week of pregnancy.

A quarter recover quickly

Some women questioned also felt partly or even wholly responsible for the miscarriage, telling the researchers that they had been working too hard, smoking, drinking or holidaying during the early months of the pregnancy.

A third of partners said they still thought about the event daily, even some time after the miscarriage had taken place.

Dr Pat Hughes, a senior lecturer in psychiatry, and consultant psychotherapist from St George's Hospital in south London is conducting research into the psychological effects of stillbirth on both women and their partners.

She said: "There is no question that the later the loss is in pregnancy, the bigger the impact.

"The exception might be people who have had mutliple early pregnancy loss."

She said that the response to miscarriage depended on the person involved, with as many as 25% of women and men coping with the event quickly.

"We know that parents who have suffered a miscarriage like counselling, but we need more evidence that counselling actually makes a difference to the outcome."

Studies in other countries have found that an advice booklet given to couples who have suffered pregnancy loss, telling them what feelings to expect, was considered very helpful by patients.

Another study suggested that a follow-up phone call from a health professional asking how the couple were coping was also much appreciated.