Skip to main content

Information About Pregnancy Loss for Parents & Families

About pregnancy loss for parents and families.
Skip table of contents
You skipped the table of contents section.

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.

Economic supports for funeral and burial costs

In Massachusetts, families facing the loss of a stillborn baby or a baby that died at birth can seek financial support for burial costs through various programs and organizations.

Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF)

Eligible families can receive a maximum of $6,500 for funeral and burial expenses. CICRF is a reimbursement fund, meaning that the funeral or burial expense must have already been incurred. Unfortunately, due to variable funding, the CICRF cannot guarantee in advance if they can cover an expense or the amount they can cover. Massachusetts families of children who had special healthcare needs or disabilities, whose income is 300% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and who have no other source of funding are eligible. Medical expenses must be greater than a certain percent of the family's annual income.

Learn more and access the application on the CICRF homepage or call 1-800-882-1435 (within Massachusetts), 617-624-6060, or TTY 617-624-5992.

Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)

The Department of Transitional Assistance offers payment assistance for funeral and burial costs, with a maximum of $1,100 for eligible individuals. In order to be eligible for funeral and burial payment assistance, the total cost of the funeral, cremation, and burial cannot be more than $3,500. An outstanding balance must be owed upon the time to application and up to $1,100 can be provided directly to the funeral home. DTA only provides economic support for babies who took a breath.

Social Security Administration

If the baby was born alive and lived even briefly, some families may be eligible for a one-time death benefit. The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not provide direct support for burial costs after a stillbirth. However, the SSA offers a one-time Lump-Sum Death Payment (LSDP) of $255 to eligible survivors, which can be used for funeral or burial costs. To apply for the Lump-Sum Death Payment, individuals must contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) directly. Applications cannot be submitted online for this benefit. The application process can be initiated by calling the SSA’s national toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting a local Social Security office.

TEARS Foundation

Provides financial aid for funeral expenses and emotional support to families who have lost a child due to stillbirth, miscarriage, or early infant death. The Foundation offers financial help for funerals of babies who were between 20 weeks gestation and 1 year old when they passed away. The Foundation has several funds to support families depending on the need and the gestational age or age of the baby. The application is submitted online and requires official documents from the funeral home. You can request assistance by submitting an application online and individuals must submit official documents from the funeral home.

The Tears Foundation also offers funds through the Luca John Fund. The Fund provides financial assistance for funeral expenses for children who have passed away 12 months or younger regardless of cause, as well as emotional support. The Luca John Foundation has now merged with The Tears Foundation to become the Luca John Fund and continues to offer this much needed service to grieving families.

Angel Names

Provides financial assistance to current residents of the United States with a baby that was at least 20 gestational weeks old, with no respirations, heartbeats or signs of life. The Securing End-of-Life Expenses (SEOLE), pronounced “soul,” program provides assistance with autopsy, funeral, burial and cremation expenses. Funding is sent to the service provider (i.e. funeral home). Families complete a brief Request for Assistance form and submit an itemized invoice/estimate from the service provider. Please submit completed forms to support@angelnames.org.

Rebeccas Reason

Provides financial assistance for medical bills and funeral expenses from the unexpected death of a child under 13 (including stillborn). Individuals can request for assistance with their application form and funding is provided directly to the creditor.

The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation

Provides financial assistance for high-risk pregnancies, NICU stays and funerals for infants up to 1 year. Families can apply for financial assistance and support is capped at $1,000 per family.

Final Farewell

Assists families with funeral-related expenses who've lost a child under the age of 18. Families can submit an application for assistance.

Tiny Hearts Remembered

Financial resource for those in need of assistance with hospital bills and/or burial experiences due to their pregnancy loss and infant loss. Financial assistance is based on funds available and a criteria-based application process. Families can contact Tiny Hearts for more information through their inquiry form.

Local churches and funeral homes

Many churches and funeral homes assist with burial costs or offer reduced services for infant and pregnancy loss.

Hospitals and perinatal loss programs

Some hospital social work departments have discretionary funds or partnerships with nonprofits that cover cremation or burial. Massachusetts General Hospital has published this guide on Resources for Final Arrangements.

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.

Economic supports for families

You may be to able take leave with partial income replacement and job protection through the MA Paid Family and Medical Leave program while you recover from conditions due to miscarriage, stillbirth, or perinatal mental health conditions if they prevent you from working and you are an eligible Massachusetts worker.

The birthing parent's husband or partner may also be eligible for family leave to care for the pregnant individual during their recovery or medical leave to recover from a miscarriage, stillbirth, or perinatal mental health conditions, if it is certified as a serious health condition by their health care provider.

To learn more about how to access PFML after a stillbirth or miscarriages please visit PFML: About medical leave to manage your own serious health condition.

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback