The Impact of a Post-Stillbirth Pregnancy on Mental Well-Being

About 21,000 stillbirths occur each year in the United States. Most women who experience such a loss become pregnant again within 12 months.

While emotional and psychological challenges, such as grief and depression, are recognized as normal responses to stillbirth, the emotional impact of a subsequent pregnancy is often overlooked. Women who become pregnant after a stillbirth are at an increased risk for mental health disorders, such as anxiety, but prenatal care doesn't typically address mental health concerns.

Reporting Fellow Jenny Albers explores how the experience of a stillbirth impacts a subsequent pregnancy, especially as it relates to the mother's mental well-being. Through interviews with mothers, physicians, mental health providers, and advocates who work with women who have lost a child in a stillbirth, Albers shines a light on the hidden challenges of a post-stillbirth pregnancy.