Trauma-Informed Care in the Setting of Pregnancy Loss

Miscarriage occurs in as many as 1 in 4 pregnancies and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) affects between 1% and 3% of women of reproductive age. Other pregnancy losses such as stillbirths and termination of wanted pregnancies for medical reasons occur less frequently. Pregnancy loss is often physically and psychologically traumatic due to the physical manifestations of the loss (bleeding, pain, and possibly medical intervention) and the psychological trauma of the loss of a highly desired pregnancy. Psychological symptoms of grief, anxiety, depression, shame, and guilt are common. Trauma-informed care can prove a framework through which support can be provided to women and their partners who have experienced a pregnancy loss. Acknowledging and validating the traumatic experience, naming and processing the emotional reaction to the losses, and providing emotional support in subsequent pregnancies are all important aspects of care for the pregnancy loss patient population.