Miscarriage

Miscarriage, earlier referred to as a “spontaneous abortion” is an unexpected loss of a foetus before week 22 of the pregnancy. It is quite common to experience it at some point in your life. Although as many as one in three pregnancies end in a miscarriage, that does not make it easier to cope with.

There may be many different reactions to a miscarriage, whether it is the first time or has happened several times. The same is true for the weeks and months afterwards. Processing your emotions will take time, regardless of whether or not the pregnancy was planned or unplanned, wanted or unwanted.

Everyone who has had a miscarriage is entitled to follow-up by healthcare professionals.

Some may react with grief and loss after a miscarriage. Others may feel a sense of hopelessness, relief, anger or despair. These emotional reactions may arise immediately or much later. There is no right or wrong way to react. Only you know how you feel.


Most people benefit from talking with someone close to them, such as a partner, friends or family members. Others find it more helpful to speak with a professional.

At Amathea, many of our clients find it helpful and important to have someone to talk to afterwards, to get answers to questions, sort out thoughts and feelings, and to process the experience. This can help them understand their own reactions or feelings afterwards, which is important for processing the experience and the time afterwards. 

Our focus, in our sessions is on giving you the time and opportunity to talk about whatever you feel is important to you. This is meant to be a safe place, where you can speak openly without worries of what might be right or wrong.

During our sessions, we find that the following topics are fairly common: 

  • Your situation at the moment
  • Uncertainty
  • Relationship with a partner/the co-parent
  • Relationship with your family
  • Your physical and mental health
  • Feelings of guilt and shame
  • Social or cultural pressure
  • Thoughts about the future

Do you need someone to talk to? 
At Amathea, you will meet healthcare professionals with extensive experience in counselling on abortion and miscarriage, regardless of the type or when it occurred. We are a neutral healthcare service, have a duty of confidentiality, and can help you in your situation and in making your decision. You may come alone or together with your partner or co-parent.

All of our services are free of charge. We offer sessions in Norwegian and English. We can also book interpreters for other languages. A session here lasts about an hour, and you can talk with us on video, by phone, or at one of our offices. You decide how many sessions you need, and we will schedule these together.

About miscarriages

Why do miscarriages happen?

You may have many questions about why a miscarriage happened, and it is not possible to answer all of these with certainty.

There may be many reasons and risk factors involved, but usually the miscarriage is due to a random genetic abnormality that prevents the embryo from growing. The probability of a miscarriage increases with age. Similarly, problems in the uterus such as fibroids, a weakened or short cervix, chronic diseases such as diabetes and metabolic changes, clotting disorders, obesity, smoking or substance abuse may all have an impact. The likelihood of a miscarriage increases if you have already had two or more miscarriages.

What are the symptoms of a miscarriage?
Symptoms of a miscarriage include bleeding, pain in the lower abdomen, lower back pain, as well as discharge or clots from the vagina. If a miscarriage is suspected, your doctor will normally take blood tests and perform a gynaecological examination or an ultrasound.

Different types of miscarriages are classified based on the extent to which the embryo or foetus is passed from the uterus. A missed miscarriage means that the embryo or foetus has died in the uterus but has not been physically passed. A partial miscarriage means that some but not all of the tissue has been passed from the uterus, and a complete miscarriage means that all of the tissue has been passed. The extent to which you need treatment following a miscarriage will vary. Your doctor will assess your condition and help you after the examination.

What happens after a miscarriage?
After a miscarriage, it is common to bleed for several weeks, and the uterus will quickly return to normal. You may feel tired and vulnerable after a miscarriage. Your body will be experiencing changing hormone levels when adjusting from pregnancy to no longer being pregnant, and this may affect your mood and emotions.