Vision Psychology Brisbane

Open 6 Days - Wishart Psychologist & Counselling Centre

Pregnancy Loss Counselling

Pregnancy loss counselling can be valuable regardless of whether the pregnancy was much anticipated, a surprise or even unwanted …

With today’s medical advances and lower infant mortality rates, women are ill-prepared to cope with pregnancy loss – so when a pregnancy ends in miscarriage, stillbirth or termination due to foetal anomalies, it can cause devastation in the heart, mind and life of the mother.

Attachment in Pregnancy

This is partly due to the process of parental bonding (attachment) which occurs throughout pregnancy.

As the woman adjusts to the reality of her pregnant state, she begins to develop a mental image of her unborn baby, and bonding is further facilitated when she views the foetus via ultrasound, and senses the movement of the baby in the womb. This attachment and bonding helps a woman to accept her pregnancy, and prepare for motherhood psychologically.

Given this maternal prenatal bonding process, it is easy to understand why this type of loss can have such a major impact on a woman – and why pregnancy loss counselling may be warranted.

Factors Contributing to Grief following Pregnancy Loss

A woman’s grief may be further complicated due to the unique factors which surround miscarriage or stillbirth:

  • Miscarriage is usually sudden, leaving no time for anticipatory grieving. This increases the risk of pathological grief.
  • The woman suffers from feelings of helplessness, as she is unable to influence the inevitable outcome. And yet, many women blame themselves for, and feel guilt about, their pregnancy loss.
  • If her partner does not express his grief, this may exacerbate her feelings of guilt and blame. It can also place incredible strain on their relationship.
  • The pregnancy is often not common knowledge, therefore the woman may be reluctant to disclose that she has lost the baby. She may feel isolated and alone, unable to share her grief.
  • There may be no funeral or public ritual to say goodbye.
  • Frequently the mother has not resolved the ambivalence typical of the early narcissistic phase of pregnancy. These feelings of ambivalence may make the mother feel she has ‘wished’ the child dead, predisposing her to pathological grief.
  • In the case of recurrent miscarriage, there is a recapitulation of previous trauma.

Losing More than A Pregnancy

The loss of a pregnancy, particularly in the early stages, can leave a woman grieving for a part of herself – as she has not yet had the chance to distinguish the foetus as a new person. Losing a pregnancy also leaves a woman grieving the loss of:

  • her hopes and dreams;
  • her faith in her own body;
  • her self-worth as a parent;
  • the experience of raising a child; and
  • her sense of security in the world.

All of these factors combined show that grief over pregnancy loss is no less real than any other bereavement, and in fact can create substantial psychological impact on mothers and families. This area has been extensively studied over the past 30 years, and the death of an infant is now recognised as one of the most stressful life events that an adult may experience (Wing & Clance, 2001).

The Role of Pregnancy Loss Counselling

Pregnancy Loss Counselling with a skilled professional can provide a safe space for a woman to tell her story, where she can focus on her own distress rather than protecting others from it. Ideally her partner will be included in any bereavement counselling, as women and men often cope with the loss in different ways, creating relationship difficulties.

In addition, pregnancy loss counselling will likely involve helping you to create memories around your loss, that are particularly meaningful to your and your partner.

If you are struggling with grief following stillbirth or miscarriage, I encourage you to seek out pregnancy loss counselling.

To make an appointment try Online Booking. Alternatively, you can call Vision Psychology Brisbane on (07) 3088 5422.

References:

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  • Barrett-Lennard, G.T.  (1981) The empathy cycle–refinement of a nuclear concept. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 28, 91-100.
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  • Sperry, P. & Sperry, L. (2004). The Family experience of Loss Associated With Miscarriage and Ectopic Pregnancy, The Family Journal: Counselling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 12(4), 401-404.
  • Thompson, N. (1997). Masculinity and loss. In D. Field, J. Hockey, & N. Small (Eds.), Death, gender and ethnicity, London: Routledge,  76–88.
  • William, W. J. (2003). Attachment, Loss and the task of Mourning, Grief Counselling and Grief Therapy, Ch 1, 7-20.
  • Wilson, T. & Flenady, V. (2008). Support for mothers, fathers and families after perinatal death, Cochrane Database Systematic Review, 2, 1-8.
  • Wing D, Clance P. (2001). Understanding gender difference in bereavement following the death of an infant: implications for treatment. Psychotherapy; 38, 60–72.
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