Pregnancy Loss
Lucinda’s House was created to address the racial disparities in maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity. Through Dr. Canty's research, she found that pregnancy loss was an area where racial disparities exist. Not only in health outcomes, but also in the care and support one receives after a loss. The resources listed are to educate, support, and heal. After a pregnancy loss you need to heal physically and mentally. It is important to take care of both.
The Pregnancy loss webpage was made with the support of Ava Holland who volunteered her time to research and identify resources in Connecticut. Ava is a first year college student with an interest in improving maternal health outcomes.
Pregnancy loss is a term commonly used, but a more accurate term should be PERINATAL LOSS, which is defined as loss of a baby (fetus) by miscarriage, stillbirth, or newborn (less than 28 days after birth).
Common Terms
Miscarriage - loss of a baby before 20 weeks gestation (4 months)
Ectopic pregnancy - pregnancy that happens outside the uterus.
Stillbirth - loss of a baby after 20 week gestation (4 months)
Neonatal death - death of a newborn within the first 28 days
Infant death - death that occurs within the first year.
For the partner, family or friend
When someone experiences a loss of a baby, whether they are 6 weeks pregnant or 38 weeks pregnant, it is difficult to know how someone is going to be impacted. It is important for them to be surrounded by those who will love and support them. Everyone grieves differently. It is helpful to allow them to express themselves and share what they are going through. Sometimes there may be moments of silence. That is okay. Provide them the space and time to heal.
More than 50% of postpartum depression in Black women go unreported.
Maternal mental health (MMH) conditions, referred to Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth. PMADs affects 1 in 7 women during pregnancy or postpartum and 1 in 3 black women.
When PMADs go untreated, there can be long-term negative impacts on parents, baby, family, and the community.
Mental health is essential for a person's overall health. It’s ok to talk to someone and let them know that you’re not ok. It’s the first step in starting to feel better.
Mischa Hadaway LCSW, CD(DONA)
Gentle Mama Counseling
Pregnancy is usually a time of excitement and expectation as parents prepare for the arrival of their baby. Tragically, approximately 1 in 4 women in the United States suffers a miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss. Black mothers are more than twice as likely to experience all types of pregnancy loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and infant death, more often than white women. In addition to their babies being at increased risk of adverse outcomes, Black mothers themselves are three to four times more likely than white mothers to die of
pregnancy-related complications. The loss of a child is a traumatic and heartbreaking. You are not alone.
Aisha McClary
With a Purpose CT
The following information was developed by Marielis Sanabria-Rivera, nursing student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Books
I Had a Miscarriage: A Memoir, a Movement by Jessica Zucker
Author Jessica Zucker shares her own experience of having a miscarriage in hopes that other women know that they are not alone. This memoir shows that there is no way to grieve a miscarriage, and everyone will experience different emotions. She created the #IHadAMiscarriage campaign to end the silence around pregnancy loss.
Coping With Infertility, Miscarriage, and Neonatal Loss by Amy Wenzel, PhD
This book provides guidance and cognitive behavioral techniques to cope with pregnancy loss and infertility. Amy Wenzel discusses ways of commemorating your child and interacting with family, friends, and colleagues after pregnancy loss. She also provides different self-care practices and mindfulness techniques.
The Brink of Being by Julia Bueno
Julia Bueno shares her own experience with miscarriage and the stories of other women who experienced pregnancy loss. This well researched novel provides a resource for anyone who hopes to better understand miscarriage.
Grief Unseen: Healing Pregnancy Loss Through The Arts by Laura Seftel
Laura Seftel describes how to heal through the arts, and how the arts allowed her to express her emotions during her own miscarriage. She shares stories of grief through poetry and artwork and guides others to express and share their grief through artistic expression.
Local Support Group
Baby Steps Bereavement Support Group: This group is led by a family who has experienced pregnancy and infant loss. They hold meetings the first Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m at the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hartford. Contact 860-982-2516 or www.maciegracefoundation.org.
https://maciegracefoundation.org/We_want_to_help_you.html#Contact_Us
Virtual Support Group
Hope After Loss hosts online support groups for parents grieving pregnancy or infant loss. The zoom links to bi-weekly meetings are posted on their website and facebook account named Hope After Loss. https://www.hopeafterloss.org/support-groups
Social Media
The Pregnancy After Loss app is designed for women who are pregnant after losing a previous pregnancy and it provides support resources, coping skills, and pregnancy tracking. The website also provides links to several Facebook support groups that provide a safe space to connect with other women.
https://pregnancyafterlosssupport.org/pregnancy-after-loss-app/
Websites
Sisters in Loss has a range of resources including support group information and a podcast. The podcast discusses infant loss, infertility, and miscarriage. She also has an instagram account, sistersinloss, which provides resources for healing after loss, and information about support groups.
Self-Care After Pregnancy Loss By CCRM Colorado counselor Angie Fouts-Hyatt.
Miscarriage The causes and symptoms of miscarriage by Mayo Clinic.
Five Healing Strategies After a Pregnancy Loss By Gabrielle Mowry.
Tommy's Information on Pregnancy Loss, Statistics, and support services.
Emotional Healing After a Miscarriage: A Guide for Women, Partners, Family, and Friends. By Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies.
Supporting someone who has had a miscarriage by Tommy’s.
Bereavement Doula
What Is a Bereavement Doula? By Kimberlee Leonard.
A Bereavement Doula provides help during the grieving process during stillbirth and pregnancy loss. A Bereavement Doula can be present during delivery and other times throughout pregnancy. They can provide words of comfort and act as an additional support system.
Additional Resources
Black Angel Mom Guided Journal by Jeanae M. Hopgood-Jones: This guided journal helps navigate pregnancy loss through journal prompts and activities.
Poem: Ain't I Still A Mother Too? by Rhonda M at BlackAngleMom.com
Pamphlets on miscarriage by the Miscarriage Association. The pamphlets include information on miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and molar pregnancy. Some pamphlets provide information on how to communicate with family and friends about pregnancy loss and how to process the emotions.
