Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: "It's just one of those t hings people don't seem to talk about..." Women's experiences of 
social support following miscarriage: A qualitative study.  
 
Version: 0 Date: 12 Aug 2018  
 
Revie wer: Maggie Redshaw  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
I am pleased to be invited to review the paper.  
 
This is a generally well -written paper on an important topic about the experience of a great many 
women and their families.  
 
The abstract is a ppropriate, though checks for typos need to be made.  
There is no mention of the source of the sample in the abstract.  
 
The Introduction presents relevant material and issues. More could be said about what is known 
about the role and effects of multiple los ses for women. Also more could be presented on the 
evidence of psychological and emotional impact of miscarriage and well as the more general 
points made that specifically relate to the social support focus of the paper. At present this 
impact is only refe renced and a bit more about it would be helpful in contexualising the content 
of this particular paper on the need for social support.  
In the methods section the previous paper using the same data set needs to be referenced fully.  
The rationale for choice to include the health provider support in that paper needs to be clear.  
 
In the results section it would be helpful to have a table presenting the key themes and subthemes 
initially, possibly with short quotes/extracts from the int erviews to illustrate. This would help the 
reader in reading through the pages 9 -21 that follow.  
 
The issue of the 12 week boundary is an interesting one to raise in this context.  
 
The duration of the interviews should be added to the results section (rang e and median).  
 
The discussion could have included something on further research, possibly on partners, as well 
as larger scale studies with more population based samples. The strengths and limitations section 
was appropriate in the points covered.  
 
Raisin g awareness an important subject, however, it is not a straight research issue and is more 
associated with the impact of research which requires other processes to be enacted, including 
involvement with user groups.  
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what i s required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, p lease explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require furt her 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If you r reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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