Chapter 2: Grief after pregnancy or infant loss

Introduction

I assumed that everything was okay, and I trusted our doctor... And then all of a sudden everything wasn’t fine, and it was like being hit by a semi-truck that came out of nowhere.

You may have thought about becoming pregnant and having a baby for a long time. Once you became pregnant, you likely began to imagine your life with a baby. You also began to form a relationship with them, which included hopes, dreams, and feelings of attachment. This relationship lends itself to some unique aspects of your experience if you are grieving  a pregnancy or infant loss.

Additional factors also influence your grief experience. Among these are trying to sort out your identity as a parent, wanting answers, lack of recognition of your loss, social isolation, and feelings of guilt or blame.