Pregnancy Loss, Depression and Anxiety
Here are some facts on pregnancy loss, depression and anxiety:
- Pregnancy loss is more common than you may have first realised: As many as 1 in 5 women have experienced pregnancy loss. That means that many women have experiences that they’re not talking about or may not be ready to share until years later. This can result in years of pain and struggle.
- Only 2-3% of women experience subsequent pregnancy loss: This means that the risk of having another pregnancy loss is low. This fact can offer some comfort to women as it is a big concern for pregnant women who have experienced a pregnancy loss.
- Depression and anxiety are higher in women who have experienced a loss compared to other new mothers: In fact, it is 4 times higher. This means it is important for women and/or their partners to talk to their doctors:
– When the loss first occurs
– In the early months after the loss
– As often as they need going forward
– When they get pregnant again, if they are experiencing anxiety
– We know that 3 in 4 women suffer in silence, alone, instead of accessing help. If you are struggling, we encourage you to be brave and take that first step by talking to your healthcare provider to get help.
- Some women are more at risk for depression and anxiety than others: Not every woman who experiences a pregnancy loss struggles with ongoing depression or anxiety. There is no need to ask why you are not ‘more’ worried, anxious or depressed if this is you. Women who are more at risk are those who:
– Have been through infertility treatments
– Have experienced a previous loss
– Have a history of depression
– Had very high levels of distress after the loss. It is important to share this information with your healthcare provider if this is you.
- Men grieve differently: Women who have experienced loss shared with me that their partners managed loss differently, and this is in line with our research. Men prefer to talk less, tend to be more irritable, and may increase their alcohol consumption. They also tend to resolve their feelings about the loss a bit earlier than women – somewhere around 3 to 5 months after the loss.
Please reach out for help if this is you. Leave a comment below or take a look at our Resources page for further help.
References:
https://www.drdawnkingston.com/pregnancy-loss-and-depression-the-untold-story/
https://www.cope.org.au/planning-a-family/pregnancy-loss/
https://psychcentral.com/lib/emotions-surrounding-pregnancy-loss/
Dr. Dawn Kingston, Canada’s leading expert on perinatal mental health and for over ten years, has been at the forefront of research on how to prevent postpartum depression. Her team has developed the HOPE App which is designed to significantly reduce prenatal anxiety and depression and directly support expectant mothers. They are studying it in a massive implementation study, one of the most ambitious projects of this type ever!
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