Understanding Pregnancy Loss

Support for Pregnancy and Infant Loss in Washington DC

Pregnancy loss is a heartbreaking reality faced by many people in the process of building their families. 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. 1% of pregnancies end in stillbirth. Numerous families are faced with the gut-wrenching decision to end a wanted pregnancy due to serious medical concerns for the fetus or expecting mother. Far too many parents say goodbye to their babies shortly after meeting them for the first time. Despite the number of families affected by pregnancy and infant loss, these losses are often unacknowledged, leaving many families to grieve alone and without proper support.

Types of Pregnancy Loss

Pregnancy loss can occur in a variety of ways, each with its own emotional and medical implications:

  • Miscarriage: The most common type of pregnancy loss, typically occurring in the first trimester.

  • Stillbirth: Loss of a pregnancy at or after 20 weeks gestation.

  • Ectopic Pregnancy: A pregnancy that implants outside the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube. These pregnancies are not viable and can pose serious health risks to the pregnant person.

  • Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR): When a pregnancy is ended due to a serious fetal anomaly or risk to the pregnant person’s health.

  • Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: Experiencing two or more consecutive pregnancies losses before 20 weeks’ gestation.

  • Neonatal Loss: The death of an infant within the first 28 days of life

Each form of pregnancy loss is valid, and everyone’s experience is unique and deserving of care.

Emotions after Pregnancy Loss

Pregnancy loss can evoke a complex mix of emotional, and psychological responses. There is no right way to feel. Grief is very personal in this way. You may have an immediate emotional response, you might feel numb, or may experience strong emotions in the days, weeks, or months that follow. Common reactions include:

  • The loss of hopes, dreams, and anticipated parenthood often lead to grief without a clear way to mourn.

  • Many people report feeling of shame, inadequacy and failure following pregnancy loss.

  • Many who experience pregnancy loss report feeling alone, especially if they do not feel comfortable sharing their story with others.

  • For those hoping to conceive again, anxiety about future pregnancies can be intense.

  • Some people experience post traumatic symptoms related to their experience of loss.

  • Many people report feeling like their body failed them and experience lack of trust or anger towards their physical body.

  • It is common to get emotionally “triggered” after a loss by seeing a pregnant woman or baby, attending a child’s birthday party, or going back to your OB’s office, leading many people to isolate or avoid.

  • Loss can be hard on your relationship with your partner. He or she may experience the loss differently and have a different way of expressing grief.

What to Expect Physically after Pregnancy or Infant Loss?

  • Physical recovery following a pregnancy loss can look and feel different depending on when the loss occurred and what type of medical management was involved. Either way, your body needs time to rest and recover.

  • Hormone levels take time to stabilize following a loss. Anytime the body goes from pregnant to not pregnant, there are hormonal shifts.

  • Your body may continue to look pregnant for some time after your loss.

Pregnancy After Loss

Trying to conceive and navigating a pregnancy after a loss can be especially trying. It is common to experience fear, rumination and worry, or hypervigilance. Additionally, some people struggle to feel connected to subsequent pregnancies, avoid talking about their pregnancies, and disengage from others. All these reactions are normal and adaptive, but they can be difficult to manage, especially when people in your life don’t understand them. Connecting with a therapist can help. We provide expert support for pregnancy after loss, helping you navigate the emotional ups and downs, and providing guidance and support throughout your pregnancy. We help our clients connect with trauma-sensitive medical providers and birth workers to offer comprehensive wrap-around support through pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum.

How We Can Help:

Therapy for Pregnancy Loss in the Washington, D.C. Area

Coping with pregnancy and infant loss takes time. There is no roadmap for how long you “should” grieve, and the feelings you experience may shift and change. How long you grieve for and what that grief feels like is not dependent on how far along you were in your pregnancy. A therapist trained in supporting patients through pregnancy loss can help you navigate all of this.

At Dr. Emma Basch & Associates we offer a supportive, nonjudgment space to process the loss, provide guidance on navigating triggers, enhance your coping skills, and address relationship concerns.

We are also trained in trauma therapy for pregnancy loss and offer EMDR and other modalities for addressing traumatic symptoms. We provide couples support for couples that would like to address their loss experience together, or who are struggling to navigate the grief process.

Contact Us to Learn More and Get Help Today.