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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:

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

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.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: May 2024


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Need more information?

Coping after a stillbirth - COPE

COPE's purpose is to prevent and improve the quality of life of those living with emotional and mental health problems that occur prior to and within the perinatal period.

Read more on COPE - Centre of Perinatal Excellence website

Your body after stillbirth or neonatal death

After a stillbirth or neonatal death, your body may experience changes that come with giving birth. Find out what to expect and where to find support.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Managing after pregnancy loss

COPE's purpose is to prevent and improve the quality of life of those living with emotional and mental health problems that occur prior to and within the perinatal period.

Read more on COPE - Centre of Perinatal Excellence website

Pregnancy and a new baby after loss | PANDA

Deciding to try for another baby or confirmation of a new pregnancy can stir up strong feelings for bereaved parents.

Read more on PANDA – Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia website

Stronger Bubba Born | Looking after Bubba for all our Mob

Looking after Bubba for all our Mob Having a safer and healthy pregnancy is the aim for all families

Read more on NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (Stillbirth CRE) website

Sleep on your side | Safer Baby - Working Together to Reduce Stillbirth

Research shows that going-to-sleep on your side from 28 weeks of pregnancy can halve your risk of stillbirth, compared to going-to-sleep on your back. After ...

Read more on NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (Stillbirth CRE) website

Stillbirth

Stillbirth is defined as the tragic loss of a baby from 20 weeks gestation or 400g of body weight, if gestation is unknown. Approximately six babies are stillborn in Australia each day. Sometimes the cause is identified afterward but, in some cases, the death remains unexplained.

Read more on Gidget Foundation Australia website

Sleep on your side during pregnancy | Red Nose Australia

Sleeping on your side during pregnancy reduces your risk of stillbirth. Find out more here.

Read more on Red Nose website

Grief after stillbirth or neonatal death | Raising Children Network

When a baby dies because of stillbirth or neonatal death, there’s no right way for you to grieve. People deal with grief in their own ways.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Information for parents – Stillbirth Clinical Care Standard | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

What is Stillbirth? Stillbirth is when a baby dies before birth. In Australia, it is defined as the death of a baby after 20 weeks of pregnancy, or that weighs 400 grams or more.

Read more on Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website

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