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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
"The hardest 9 months of my life": Parents' experiences of care in pregnancies after perinatal loss in Australia
Women and Birth, Vol.39(1), pp.1-11
2026
PMID: 41512797
Abstract
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 HealthKathina Ali - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - PsychologyAleena M Wojcieszek - The University of QueenslandIda Stevia Diget - The University of QueenslandLaura Singline - The University of QueenslandAnn Lancaster - The University of QueenslandEmma Porter - The University of QueenslandChristine Andrews - The University of QueenslandAdrienne Gordon - The University of QueenslandAlexander E P Heazell - University of ManchesterSusannah Hopkins Leisher - The University of QueenslandAmy Cooper - RNA-AUElizabeth McCarthy - Mercy Hospital for WomenVanessa Postle - Royal Prince Alfred HospitalAnne Sneddon - WCHA-AUBarbara Vernon - WCHA-AUSean Seeho - The University of SydneySailesh Kumar - The University of QueenslandFrances M Boyle - The University of QueenslandDavid Ellwood - The University of QueenslandVicki 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; 1871-5192
- 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/).
- 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
Metrics
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