Coping With Pregnancy Loss

Pregnancy loss can leave us with many unanswered questions, and knowing where to find answers is not always clear.

This book is for you if, like me, you’ve been affected by pregnancy loss – currently or in the past. You might have had an early or late miscarriage, molar pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, or stillbirth – or you might be the partner of someone who has had one or more of these experiences. Alternatively, your friend or family member might be affected by pregnancy loss and you want ideas on how to comfort them. Or you might work in healthcare, for a charity, or be a therapist wishing to provide better pregnancy loss care.

Here you’ll find practical advice and self-care strategies to help you cope during or after pregnancy loss. Plus ideas that will enable you to make sense of what’s happened – including explaining different ways you may feel; outlining what you can expect during and after your loss; how to navigate physical and mental health care (if appropriate); considering the choices you may need to make; and, if you want to, thinking about how to remember your baby.

This book is designed to help you feel like you are not going through your loss alone. It is a reminder that we all react – and cope – in different ways; and respects diverse needs when it comes to getting information, support, and care. While it is not a replacement of healthcare or therapy, it signposts you to other sources of support that can assist you. With straightforward information, reflection exercises, self-help resources, and other people’s stories about how they coped with loss, you should feel better able to understand what is happening to you and more confident about seeking additional help if needed.

Petra Boynton has a PhD in Applied Human Psychology. Her research specialism is sex and relationships and she has taught at several UK universities, most recently at UCL from 2002-2014. In 2014 Petra ran a public awareness project with the Miscarriage Association identifying the needs of partners affected by miscarriage and resulting in a multimedia project (film, cartoon and an information booklet) that led to international press coverage (http://theresearchcompanion.com/partners-too-how-to-make-a-public-awareness-campaign) Petra is also an Agony Aunt and has worked for the past 13 years providing information on health and relationships to the public via the media (print, online and broadcast media including Grazia, Men’s Health, and since 2012 at the Telegraph). She has used this experience to advise governments and global healthcare agencies and is experienced in discussing complex and emotional topics in sensitive and accessible ways.