Pregnancy after a stillbirth or neonatal death
7-minute read
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Key facts
- Choosing when to get pregnant after you have experienced a stillbirth or neonatal death is a personal choice, there is no right time.
- Planning your next pregnancy after a stillbirth or neonatal death involves trying to understand the cause of your loss if possible, reducing your risk of pregnancy complications and preparing yourself emotionally.
- During your next pregnancy after a stillbirth or neonatal loss, your doctor may request more health visits and tests to make sure you and your baby are healthy.
- There are specialist clinics throughout Australia that can provide extra care for your next pregnancy after a stillbirth or neonatal loss.
- An unplanned pregnancy after a loss can be stressful; seek support and know your rights.
How long should I wait until planning a future pregnancy?
After you have experienced a stillbirth or neonatal death, choosing when you want to get pregnant again is a personal decision. There is no right or wrong amount of time you should wait.
You may want to get pregnant again as soon as possible to ease the pain of your loss. Or, you may feel you need to take a break so you can physically recover and process your feelings.
If you have a partner or children, their needs and wellbeing might influence when you feel ready to try again. Your cultural and religious background may also play a part in your decision-making.
Sometimes you may have a medical reason to wait. For example, your doctor may advise you to wait until you have results of medical or genetic tests. These results can influence your future antenatal care.
It is important to follow your doctor’s advice if they recommended that you wait a certain amount of time before trying get pregnant again.
Discussing your situation with a health professional can help you decide the best time for you to plan your next pregnancy.
How should I plan a future pregnancy?
When planning your next pregnancy, after you have experienced a stillbirth or neonatal death, consider your physical, medical and emotional needs.
Medical needs
After experiencing a stillbirth or neonatal death, you can do some tests to help find out why it happened. This is an important part of planning future pregnancies. Examples of tests include:
- genetic testing on you, your child’s biological father and baby
- medical tests on you and your baby
- sending your placenta to pathology
- autopsy on your baby
Deciding to do an autopsy is a personal decision. You can choose less invasive options — this may limit the amount of information you get.
Sometimes, your doctor will refer you to a genetic counsellor. Your test results influence how your doctors will manage future pregnancies.
Unfortunately, you may not always find out why you experienced a stillbirth or neonatal death.
If you have had a stillbirth, you may be at a higher risk of having another stillbirth, or complications such as pre-eclampsia, placental abruption and preterm birth during your next pregnancy. Before getting pregnant, it is important you discuss with your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk of complications. For example, if you are living with overweight or obesity, smoke or have diabetes, you may try to address these factors before getting pregnant again.
Read more about planning for your pregnancy.
Read more about preconception health for women.
Emotional and family support
Some people find that planning a pregnancy after loss triggers anxiety, grief and conflict. Remember, whatever your feelings, they are valid. You do not need to justify them.
If you have a partner, they may be going through their own journey. Sometimes you may want different things. This can sometimes cause tension.
It is very important you look after your emotional wellbeing. Processing your grief can help you enter the right headspace before you try again. Do your best to make sure you begin your next pregnancy with strong support networks and coping mechanisms.
A counsellor or psychologist can help you work through your feelings and options. You may also find it comforting to join support groups and speak with people who have shared similar experiences as you.
To find a counsellor or psychologist near you, use the Pregnancy Birth and Baby Service Finder tool.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
Will I have extra care during my next pregnancy?
If you’ve experienced a stillbirth or neonatal death, you may be offered extra antenatal care during your next pregnancy. There are specialist clinics that provide maternity care for parents and families experiencing pregnancy after stillbirth or neonatal death.
Each situation is unique. You are encouraged to share your personal preferences and worries with your doctor. In consultation with you, your doctor will consider your wishes, obstetric history and test results to create a personalised care plan for you.
To check your and your baby’s wellbeing, your doctor may recommend:
- more frequent and flexible appointments
- extra ultrasounds to assess fetal growth and to detect obstetric complications
- genetic testing of your fetus
- cervical length screening between 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy if you have a history of spontaneous preterm birth
If you know the cause of your stillbirth, your doctor may prescribe:
- low-dose aspirin — if you have a history of placental insufficiency or pre-eclampsia
- extra folic acid supplementation — if you have a history of neural tube defects
- progesterone — if you have had a spontaneous preterm birth
Your doctor will also discuss the timing of your baby’s birth and work with you to create a birth plan that’s right for you. Some people may choose a planned caesarean birth.
Your emotional wellbeing is also a priority. You will also have access to emotional support, via in-person or telehealth counselling. You may also be able to contact your healthcare team between appointments if you have any worries and concerns.
What if my pregnancy is not planned?
If you unexpectedly become pregnant, you may feel very overwhelmed. It can also trigger grief or joy. What you feel is normal. Even if this pregnancy is unplanned, it may still be wanted.
You do not have to go through this alone. Seek support from your partner and people you trust. You can also have counselling to help you process. It is important you know your options and rights.
If you are a victim of sexual assault, you may wish to report the sexual assault to police.
Read more about making decisions about unplanned pregnancies.
Resources and support
- If you or someone you care about has experienced a stillbirth or neonatal loss, Red Nose Grief and Loss has grief and loss support groups online and face to face throughout Australia.
- Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) — call 1300 726 306 to speak with a counsellor.
- Stillbirth Foundation Australia offers information and support for people affected by a stillbirth.
- The Pink Elephants Support Network provides information and support for people who have experienced pregnancy loss.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.