Pregnancy Loss or Termination

Dealing with pregnancy loss or termination can have a profound and lasting effect on a woman. Society teaches us that getting pregnant and carrying a baby to full-term is the most natural thing in the world, but in fact about one in five pregnancies in the U.S. end in miscarriage (defined as the loss of a fetus before the 20^th week) and this statistic does not include stillbirth (loss after 20^th week) or pregnancy termination. Even if the mother does not see her fetus or baby, the loss is very real and the grieving process is no different than for any other loved one.

While friends and family naturally want to help, they sometimes don’t know what to say to the grieving mother. Everyone grieves differently and so they may assume its best to say nothing. Or perhaps worse, she is told that she can “try again.” Unfortunately, this can leave the mother feeling even more isolated and her pain, misunderstood.

If you have suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth or termination, talking to someone who understands what you’re going through and can offer proven tools for coping is often the first step in coming to terms with your loss. We also offer help for fathers and partners, not only for their own grief but also to support and better understand how if can affect their relationship. Pregnancy loss and termination are difficult things to face; don’t go it alone.