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.
Emotional support for fathers and male-identifying partners
Fathers and male caregivers often benefit from spaces that are designed with them in mind. Social expectations, cultural norms, and how men are raised to process emotions can make it harder for them to seek supports. However, creating intentional and welcoming environments helps bridge that gap between seeking help and getting connected to resources.
Grief can be especially isolating for men, not because they feel less, but because many have been taught to express less. Men-only grief groups can create spaces where the pressure to express emotions only in certain ways softens and something more honest can come through.
Here’s what makes men’s grief support groups uniquely important and effective:
- Permission to feel without judgment: Many men are socialized to stay “strong” or silent. Being in a room with other men navigating loss can normalize emotion in a way mixed groups sometimes don’t.
- Different expressions of grief: Men may show grief through anger, withdrawal, humor, or focusing on tasks. These emotions and behaviors are normal expressions of grief. Men-centered groups understand and validate those expressions rather than treating the behaviors as abnormal.
- Reduced stigma around vulnerability: When one man opens up, it often gives others permission to do the same. This kind of peer modeling is powerful.
- Focus on identity and role loss: Loss of a parent, partner, child, or a sense of self can deeply impact how men see their role as providers, protectors, or leaders. Men’s groups can help men navigate their changing role from pregnancy loss and how to encourage them to seek support.
Regardless of the gender identity of a partner or family member, miscarriage and stillbirth impact everyone close to the birthing person. It’s important to seek support for yourself and for supporting the birthing person. Use this list of local community resources for individuals and families who may have experienced pregnancy loss, as well as family members and loved ones of a partner.