Treatment Recommendations for Grief After Pregnancy Loss

Assessment and Screening

• Healthcare providers should routinely screen for depression and anxiety in women who have experienced pregnancy loss using validated tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, or Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale 1

Non-Pharmacological Interventions

• Evidence-based psychotherapies should be offered as first-line treatment for grief after pregnancy loss 1
• Family members should be offered acute grief support at the time of loss and referred to community bereavement support services 2, 3
• Healthcare providers should compile a list of resources for grief and bereavement support, including local support groups 2

Follow-Up Care

• Healthcare providers should contact bereaved family members a few weeks or months after the loss to answer questions and assess coping 2
• Family members should be educated about the grieving process and offered opportunities to debrief with the healthcare team 2

Pharmacological Interventions When Indicated

• For women with moderate to severe depression following pregnancy loss, a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy may be considered 1
• When prescribing medications, healthcare providers should carefully weigh potential maternal benefits against fetal risks if the woman is attempting to conceive again 1

Addressing Secondary Losses

• Treatment should acknowledge that grief after pregnancy loss involves not only the primary loss but also secondary losses, such as the loss of future hopes and dreams 5
• These secondary losses may be redefined and grief revisited at different life milestones 5
• Therapeutic approaches should help individuals process both immediate grief and anticipate future moments when grief may resurface 5

Caregiver Considerations

• Healthcare providers should receive education on acute bereavement support for grieving family members 2
• Formal debriefing sessions should be considered for healthcare teams following difficult cases, particularly when the team experiences intense emotion 2
• Self-care for healthcare providers is essential when supporting families through pregnancy loss 6