Nine Months of Labor: The Psychosocial Weight of a Pregnancy After a Gestational Loss

Abstract

This article reviews the literature on the experience of pregnancy for women who suffered a prior perinatal loss through miscarriage or stillbirth. Both psychological and social perspectives are considered, and findings synthesized with the first author’s reflection on the psychosocial circumstances and needs of women pregnant after a loss, using her personal loss and experience as a peer providing support to this population. Clinical implications highlight the importance of acknowledging the challenges faced by those carrying a child in the very same womb that had previously seen a devastating outcome.