Based on listener requests, in this week's episode we talked about perinatal loss—that is, the loss of a baby before birth. It’s such a devastating experience when it happens to you, especially because it can feel very isolating. But it’s more common than you think—many times people who have experienced perinatal loss don’t talk about it. We're going to change that.
When we talk about perinatal loss, we usually use two different words to describe it: miscarriage and stillbirth. Both miscarriage and stillbirth describe pregnancy loss, but they differ according to when the loss occurs. In the United States, a miscarriage is usually defined as the loss of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy, and a stillbirth is the loss of a baby at 20 weeks of pregnancy and later.
Both miscarriage and stillbirth are more common than you might think. Each year about 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States—approximately 1 pregnancy out of 100 that make it to 20 weeks or later will end in stillbirth. For women who know they’re pregnant, about 10 to 20 percent end in miscarriage, and many women miscarry without even realizing they were pregnant. 80 percent of miscarriages happen in the first trimester before the 12th week of pregnancy. A study from the CDC found that Black mothers were more than twice as likely to experience stillbirth compared to Hispanic and white mothers. While they didn’t have a full explanation for these racial disparities, they noted that improvements in women’s health, with regular access to quality prenatal care, can potentially reduce the risk of stillbirth for women and families.
Perinatal loss can have a lasting impact on women's mental health: 55% of women who experienced a loss presented symptoms of depression, 27% presented perinatal grief, and more than 18% reported moderate anxiety. If you experience repeated pregnancy loss then the effects can be even greater in some cases, and can lead to feelings of discouragement and emotional pain as well as an increased risk of anxiety, depression, grief, guilt, and anger. Symptoms of moderate or severe depression are present in about 10% of affected couples, and high stress levels are reported in more than 40% of patients with recurrent pregnancy loss.
If you have experienced perinatal loss, know that you are not alone. Listen to my episode to hear about how you can ask for support and take care of yourself through grief. If you prefer to read a transcript, that is available here.
I hope these episodes provide you with meaningful tools. Let me know what you think by leaving me a voicemail at (929) 256-2191 or sending me an email at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com.
Losing a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth can have devastating effects on your mental health—but you’re not alone. This week, we explore the way perinatal loss impacts your mental health and ways you can cope.
