Trauma During Pregnancy Loss
When experiencing pregnancy and infant loss, it can be difficult to understand the emotional, physical, and mental impact across different stages of gestation due to societal expectations. This type of mindset can skew a grieving parent’s expectations for themselves, and potentially cause someone to minimize their experiences.
Here’s the reality: research has shown that individuals who experience early pregnancy loss can develop emotional responses similar in intensity to those who experience loss later in pregnancy. Meaning, regardless of gestational age, your grief is valid and no less valid regardless of what trimester the loss occurred in.
A 2002 study titled Affective disorders in the aftermath of miscarriage: a comprehensive review, published in Archives of Women’s Mental Health, found that mothers who experienced early-stage pregnancy loss reported comparable levels of grief and psychological distress to those who experienced later losses.
Grief and trauma are related but have distinct differences, even when looking at the loss of a pregnancy. While grief is a natural and expected response to loss, trauma can occur when the experience of that loss overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope or process what has happened. You can feel stuck with these body sensations remaining activated, as if the event were still happening.
Pregnancy loss can include traumatic elements, such as unexpected medical complications, physical pain, loss of bodily autonomy, or distressing clinical experiences. When trauma is present, it can interfere with the natural grieving process, causing symptoms such as loss of interest in activities, isolation, an inability to communicate, irritability, dissociative reactions, and more to occur.
In these cases, engaging in trauma-focused treatment, such as somatic experiencing, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), or brainspotting, can help individuals process the traumatic aspects of the experience. As the trauma is addressed, this will allow an individual to begin to experience and process their grief surrounding the loss of their pregnancy.
There are increased risks associated with pregnancy loss in comparison to a live birth. A 2016 study titled Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms After Prinatal Loss in a Population-Based Sample in the Journal of Women’s Health found that, compared to mothers who experienced a live birth, bereaved mothers are:
Seven times more likely to experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Four times more likely to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD)
Two times more likely to experience generalized anxiety
These findings underscore the importance of early support, screening, and intervention following pregnancy loss. However, if trauma is present, barriers to seeking care can begin to form for parents.
Trauma responses can present in a variety of ways, and it is important for you and your loved one to be aware of these warning signs. Some common signs of trauma to be aware of include:
Avoidance behaviors (e.g., avoiding medical appointments, reminders of pregnancy, or previously enjoyed activities)
Feeling disconnected from one’s body or experiencing a sense of betrayal by the body (dissociative reactions)
Difficulty with physical or emotional intimacy (not being able to trust yourself or your body to be in a vulnerable state again)
Persistent fear, including fear of future pregnancy or loss of trust in oneself
Intrusive symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, or heightened anxiety
Recognizing these symptoms is not about trying to find something wrong with you, but about identifying the need for additional support from family and friends, as well as professional intervention.
Seeking support following pregnancy loss, be that a miscarriage in any trimester, a stillbirth, or a termination for medical reasons (TMFR), is not wrong or shameful, but valid for the experience you have had. Having access to a support system, whether through trusted loved ones, support groups, or mental health professionals, will be important as you navigate the new reality you’ve been thrust into.
The impact, grief, and possible trauma of pregnancy loss are not defined by gestational age. The emotional impact is real, valid, and worthy of care at every stage.
Remember, you don’t have to navigate this alone.
If you or someone you know may benefit from a compassionate, nonjudgmental space to process loss, consider reaching out to The Mental Wellness Center for the support you deserve. Click this link to become a client: https://www.thementalwellnesscenter.com/intake
