No pills for heartache: The importance of social support for women who suffer pregnancy loss

Abstract

This paper uses part of the data from a randomized controlled trial of social support in pregnancy in order to investigate whether the provision of social support in a subsequent pregnancy for women who have previously undergone pregnancy loss makes an appreciable difference to their physical and emotional health in that subsequent pregnancy. Significant differences in emotional well-being, at 6 weeks and 1 year after delivery, were found between the supported and unsupported groups. Physical health was not affected by the intervention. Qualitative data on the women's experiences of pregnancy loss highlight their need for the recognition of the dead baby as a person and thus for the legitimation of mourning. Isolation after pregnancy loss is exacerbated by negative social attitudes to death, the disappearance of traditional mourning rituals, low levels of intimacy, and gender differences in grieving. By providing non-directive social support, tailored to the individual's needs, the research midwives were able to improve women's self-confidence and feelings of control over their lives.