"The hardest 9 months of my life": Parents' experiences of care in pregnancies after perinatal loss in Australia

Siobhan A Loughnan; Kathina Ali; Aleena M Wojcieszek; Ida Stevia Diget; Laura Singline; Ann Lancaster; Emma Porter; Christine Andrews; Adrienne Gordon; Alexander E P Heazell; Susannah Hopkins Leisher; Amy Cooper; Elizabeth McCarthy; Vanessa Postle; Anne Sneddon; Barbara Vernon; Sean Seeho; Sailesh Kumar; Frances M Boyle; David Ellwood; Vicki Flenady

doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102155

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"The hardest 9 months of my life": Parents' experiences of care in pregnancies after perinatal loss in Australia

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

"The hardest 9 months of my life": Parents' experiences of care in pregnancies after perinatal loss in Australia

Siobhan A Loughnan, Kathina Ali, Aleena M Wojcieszek, Ida Stevia Diget, Laura Singline, Ann Lancaster, Emma Porter, Christine Andrews, Adrienne Gordon, Alexander E P Heazell, …

Women and Birth, Vol.39(1), pp.1-11

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102155

PMID: 41512797

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

Subsequent pregnancy

Pregnancy after loss

Bereavement

Stillbirth

Perinatal loss

Trauma-informed care

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

Problem Pregnancy after perinatal loss is associated with increased risks of adverse psychosocial and biomedical outcomes. Background Standard antenatal care often fails to meet these parents’ needs. Aim To explore parents’ experiences of pregnancy after perinatal loss in Australia and understand the care and support they find most meaningful. Methods National cross-sectional web-based survey of parents in Australia who had experienced perinatal loss and were pregnant or had completed a subsequent pregnancy in the preceding five years. Quantitative data were analysed largely descriptively; qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Findings Of 332 participants (97 % mothers), most experienced adverse mental health issues at least sometimes during the subsequent pregnancy (70–98 %). Most received additional or specialised care plans (74 %) and reported elements of respectful and compassionate care most-, or all of the time (73–91 %). Participants typically rated their care favourably. Most had access to medical components of care, such as an obstetrician (89 %) and additional ultrasound scans (87 %), while few reported the involvement of a specialist midwife (17 %), bereavement counsellor (23 %) or specialist antenatal classes for pregnancy after loss (5 %). Thematic analysis identified one overarching theme: recognition of the subsequent pregnancy and previous loss; and four subthemes: trusted healthcare professional in a continuity of carer model, additional care and monitoring, emotional and mental health support, and respectful communication. Discussion Recognition of the subsequent pregnancy in the context of prior loss is essential. Conclusion Improving access to integrated, trauma-informed continuity of care models may better support parents in pregnancies after loss.

Details

Title: "The hardest 9 months of my life": Parents' experiences of care in pregnancies after perinatal loss in Australia
Authors: Siobhan A Loughnan (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health
Kathina Ali - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Psychology
Aleena M Wojcieszek - The University of Queensland
Ida Stevia Diget - The University of Queensland
Laura Singline - The University of Queensland
Ann Lancaster - The University of Queensland
Emma Porter - The University of Queensland
Christine Andrews - The University of Queensland
Adrienne Gordon - The University of Queensland
Alexander E P Heazell - University of Manchester
Susannah Hopkins Leisher - The University of Queensland
Amy Cooper - RNA-AU
Elizabeth McCarthy - Mercy Hospital for Women
Vanessa Postle - Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Anne Sneddon - WCHA-AU
Barbara Vernon - WCHA-AU
Sean Seeho - The University of Sydney
Sailesh Kumar - The University of Queensland
Frances M Boyle - The University of Queensland
David Ellwood - The University of Queensland
Vicki Flenady - The University of Queensland
Publication details: Women and Birth, Vol.39(1), pp.1-11
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102155
ISSN: 1878-1799
PMID: 41512797
Copyright note: © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian College of Midwives. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Grants: Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, 2006523, National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - NHMRC
Grant note: This project was funded by a joint Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (Stillbirth CRE) and Stillbirth Foundation Australia research grant, and NHMRC Investigator grant for Professor Vicki Flenady. We acknowledge funding provided by the Sydney2CAMberra ride charity.
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Psychology
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991198350702621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Nursing; Obstetrics & Gynecology

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