Table 3.

Major patient consideration themes regarding miscarriage management

Theme	Medical	Surgical
Acceptance of Pregnancy Loss	I really, honestly, I didn’t want to wait it out, like I said, because I already didn’t know how long … the fetus didn’t have a heartbeat inside me and I really didn’t want to wait just for that reason.	I was ready to move on from the horrible news I’ve heard. I felt like once I got this news, I just wanted it out.
Timing & Control of Miscarriage Process	So when she gave me the pills she said I can either take them today or tomorrow…And as long as it gets done, that’s the only thing I care about.	I didn’t want to be miscarrying at work. That would be number one. So [either] the medicine or the procedure. And then I went with the procedure because I didn’t want to prolong it in case everything didn’t happen the first time.
Home & Work Responsibilities	So I’d rather be in the comfort of my own home with a bed, TV or whatever the case is, so I can be comfortable.	I’m a manager of about 150 people and I make decisions for them every day that I go to work. So it’s hard for me to follow behind somebody else’s ideas, decision, choice, opinion. And I have three children: one that’s in college and two small children – ten and five. And that’s just not something that I wanted to happen at home, especially at work.
Pain & Physical Aversions	Yeah, natural passing was just taking too long. I couldn’t bear the pain of with the D&C, so I just figured the pill was my last option.	I faint at the sight of blood… that’s just not something I can deal with, let alone the evidence of a baby or something.
Prior pregnancy experience:	I chose to do it at home because I already know what it is to get the surgery. It was more intimate being home. I know … the first time I miscarried being angry and you're sad … I did not want to take it out on anybody else.	Since I’d had abortions in the past I knew what it was like. It’s just about whether or not they were going to scrape it out, or use a vacuum … other than that, I knew that was going to happen.
Understanding of Management Choices	The option to let it pass on its own…I wouldn't know exactly when …and I wanted it to be the right time and place. I don't want it just to happen anywhere. So that wasn't good for me. So then the one that sounded like abortion, that wasn't a good option for me because I had one prior, and I don’t have good memories of that. And the pill seemed like a better option because I had more control over the situation. Even though I didn't have control of what happened, it felt like I had some control of how I handled it.	…she offered me to either let it pass through or to take a vaginal medicine to have it pass through. Either – but both of those options I felt like I would’ve had to come back to the hospital to make sure everything was fully out, so I figured that by me getting it aspirated right here that everything will be out and I wouldn’t have to come back to go through the trauma again.
Health and Safety	I chose it because I didn’t want the scaring [from surgery]	But I know from what my mother-in- law said, if I was carrying a dead baby, that toxins would be going through my body. That’s why I decided, to get the D&C.
Opinions of Physician, Family, and Friends	It was a very personal decision to take the medication. I was afraid of the other option. Actually I called [my doctor who] … was an important part of the decision.	My first thought was to get this over with as quickly as possible. And so I was leaning towards the surgical route a little bit. My mom, a nurse, helped advise me too. So that was instrumental in picking the decision I did.