For Baby Loss Awareness Week 2024, ISUOG has invited Dr Nina Parker and Dr Maya Al-Memar to discuss the psychological impact that parents experience during baby loss.
As a society committed to women's health, we hope this video offers valuable insight into what women and their partners are going through. We hope to raise awareness and encourage healthcare professionals to extend their care beyond just “diagnosis and treatment” for couples facing this difficult experience.
Miscarriage affects 15-20% of pregnancies and often results in significant emotional and psychological consequences. Many individuals experience profound distress, with around 1 in 5 developing conditions like PTSD, highlighting the severity of its impact. Despite the prevalence of these psychological challenges, structured support systems are largely absent, leaving many women to cope with the consequences on their own.
Miscarriage presents a unique psychological challenge, as many individuals may quickly expose themselves to the possibility of future pregnancies, which can compound feelings of anxiety. This makes them a particularly vulnerable population. It is crucial for clinicians to be aware of this situation, understand its impact, and consider how best to provide reassurance and support to these individuals.
Careful consideration should be given to the language used when discussing pregnancy loss. It's important to avoid language that implies guilt, as this can exacerbate feelings of self-blame and emotional distress. Medical professionals must approach pregnancy loss with sensitivity, understanding that it is a deeply personal and painful experience.
It has been shown that women who seek to understand why a miscarriage happened experience lower levels of self-blame, which in turn can reduce the risk of developing mental health issues.
It is so important to remember the powerful role clinicians play in easing the emotional burden of miscarriage by offering support, reducing feelings of blame, and allowing patients time to recover. Follow-up care is crucial, as anxiety levels often rise after a loss. Offering reassurance scans during subsequent pregnancies, even when they may seem unnecessary or pose a time constraint for healthcare professionals, is crucial in helping many patients manage their anxiety.
Since identifying individuals at risk of mental health issues solely based on prognostic factors is limited, effective screening strategies are needed to ensure that those requiring psychological support are identified and treated. Screening should be followed by appropriate interventions, such as counselling, and in severe cases—such as when suicidal thoughts are present—referral to emergency mental health services may be necessary.
It is important to understand that for many partners, pregnancy loss can be one of the most traumatic experiences, and they often encounter their own emotional challenges in the aftermath. Clinicians should ask the right questions to understand how the partner is coping, as they may also suffer from depression or PTSD. Miscarriage can either bring couples closer together or cause emotional distance if they do not understand each other's responses to the loss. The risk of relationship breakdown is increased, highlighting the importance of supporting both individuals through the grieving process.
Watch the full video to hear their invaluable insights and discover why it is important for doctors to find compassionate ways to help patients cope with their grief, break down the stigma, and extend their care beyond just medical treatment.
Emotional Screening and Support After Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Read what Professor Tom Bourne has to say about the psychological impact of baby loss here or watch his presentation here.