Pregnancy or Perinatal Loss
Pregnancy or perinatal loss includes miscarriage, termination for medical reasons, stillbirth, and infant loss. Pregnancy/perinatal loss is a unique kind of loss because you may not have a lot of time where you “knew” the person that you lost. That doesn’t mean it hurts less.
When you lose a pregnancy or an infant, you’re also losing the chance to be a parent to this particular child, and further you’re losing the future that you expected this child--and your family--to have.
These types of losses are common but sometimes may feel invisible. As many as 1 in 4 known pregnancies end in miscarriage. Other people often don’t understand the bond you may have felt to this child or they minimize your loss. In the aftermath, you may wrestle with feelings of stigma, shame, blame, or guilt in addition to the sadness. Many people find that counseling after this type of loss can help to validate your emotions and help you feel supported.