Men bury grief for the sake of their partner

FEW MEN feel able to grieve properly following a miscarriage, scientists at Teesside University have found in one of the first studies of the subject.

John Puddifoot and Martin Johnson, who interviewed 126 men for their project, found that many felt they had to support their partner through her time of grief.

Dr Johnson said: "We found that people expect men to get excited when they learn about their partner's pregnancy, but don't expect them to feel anything if their partner miscarries. Understandably, the main focus is on the partner because she has had to go through a medical event, but men are pushed to one side with their grief overlooked. Counselling and support services are made available to women, and although the male partners are invited, many feel like outsiders."