Many women who become pregnant after a loss have mixed emotions, from the excitement that they are expecting again, to being overwhelmed with anxiety and the fear of losing another baby.
Your maternity team will be aware of this and will provide extra support and care for you and your baby throughout your pregnancy. This will include extra scans to monitor your baby’s growth. Although this doesn’t take away the anxiety, it hopefully offers some reassurance.
Some maternity units will mark your maternity notes with a sticker so that midwives are aware that you have lost a baby, and you don’t have to keep explaining. Speak to your midwife to make sure this has been highlighted.
If you are feeling very anxious and finding it difficult to cope, then speak to your midwife who will be able to refer you to a specialist mental health midwife for support and advice.
Some women may prefer to be cared for by a different hospital or medical team. If this is the case, then speak to your GP to get a referral.
It might help to get in contact with another parent who has experienced the loss of a baby. The charity Sands has an online community and runs local support groups for bereaved parents and family members. Sands is a UK charity that works to support anyone affected by the death of a baby and improve the care for bereaved parents.
Women and their partners talk about their feelings and experiences of becoming a parent after a loss in this video courtesy of Tommy's.
Pregnant after a stillbirth or late term loss | Tommy's (tommys.org)
Supporting families | Sands - Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.