Information About Pregnancy Loss for Parents & Families

About pregnancy loss for parents and families.

Table of Contents

What do I do if I think I am having a pregnancy loss?

If you believe you are experiencing pregnancy loss, contact your provider as soon as possible.  Due to the complex nature of pregnancy loss, the management and treatment options offered to you should be based on diagnostic results and current guideline recommendations and should include social and emotional support.

More advanced pregnancy loss may have more complex management including second trimester abortion or induction of labor. Your provider will explain your options and together you will make a choice of what is the best course of care.

It’s important to note that pregnancy loss can result in a medical emergency due to excessive bleeding (hemorrhage) or an infection (sepsis). These can happen weeks after an initial miscarriage. That’s why it’s important to get medical care to ensure that the miscarriage is complete.

In Massachusetts, treatment for pregnancy loss is legal at any stage of pregnancy.

How do I know if I’m ready to get pregnant again after a loss?

Deciding whether and when to try for another pregnancy after a loss is deeply personal. You may want to try again soon, or you may not feel ready. All feelings are valid and normal. If you want to get pregnant again, it is important to discuss your prior loss with your provider. They may suggest certain treatments to prevent the possibility of another loss.

What if I lose another pregnancy?

If you believe you are experiencing another pregnancy loss, it is important to contact your provider as soon as possible. You may find that each pregnancy loss is managed a different way. You may have different options for the management of pregnancy loss and your provider should discuss the pros and cons of each, so you can make an informed decision about what is right for you.

Recurrent pregnancy loss is a complex issue, and the causes and treatment options are not yet fully understood. More research is needed to fully understand these causes and to develop more effective treatment. Each loss should be evaluated by your provider, and recurrent losses should be evaluated by a reproductive health specialist.

Recurrent pregnancy loss can be traumatic to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, it is important to talk with your provider about any physical concerns and ask for a referral for emotional and grief supports.

Emotional support during pregnancy loss

It’s important to ensure you have the emotional and community support that you need. Research has shown that pregnancy loss is seen as solely physical health issue. However, its mental and emotional impact can be even more serious.

The emotional response to a pregnancy loss can include anger, fear, sadness, shame and other feelings related to grief and bereavement. These feelings may last a few weeks to a year or more. Grief over a pregnancy loss can surge at unexpected times, such as around the expected due date of that pregnancy or other important dates. Daily activities such as seeing other babies, pregnant people or baby clothes and toys can also trigger feelings of grief. Your other children, partner, close family members, or friends may also be impacted by these feelings.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by pregnancy loss, it’s important to seek support. Below is a list of local community resources for individuals and families who may have experienced pregnancy loss.

Loss & grief resources

Helplines

Support groups and counseling

Miscarriage resources

Sibling grief resources
If you have other children who knew about the pregnancy, it is important to talk to them, explain what has happened, and support their process of grief and bereavement. There are many resources that can support these conversations depending on the child’s age, development, and other factors.

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback