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Article History

Received: 23 April 2025

Accepted: 23 May 2026

First Online: 28 July 2026

Declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report, which emphasizes respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. The Institutional Review Board granted ethical approval for the study at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. All participants signed a consent form indicating their willingness to participate. At the beginning of each interview, the study's aim was explained, and each woman was assured that her information would be kept confidential. Participants were aware of their right to withdraw without providing a reason. To ensure privacy, all recorded materials were stored in a locked cabinet in the researcher’s office at school, and all electronic data were saved on a password-protected computer, accessible only to the researcher. To ensure anonymity, pseudonyms were used in place of the participants’ names, and any information provided by participants was password-protected and encrypted. Participant identifiers were kept separate from the audio recordings, and transcripts will not be disclosed in any publication or presentation of findings. Transcripts will be kept on file for 5 years, per the UMASS Amherst IRB policy, and then shredded and disposed of to protect confidentiality. The discussion of the experience of pregnancy loss was anticipated to be distressful for some women. Participants were invited to stop and resume the interview later if they felt stressed or uncomfortable. Information about pregnancy loss support groups available in US communities was also provided to participants in case they required additional support.

Consent for publication: Not applicable.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.