Pregnancy Loss Resources

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Navigating life after a pregnancy loss is difficult. This is a compilation of resources that may be helpful.

Returning to Work

Each woman’s experience with pregnancy loss is unique and so is their journey returning to the workplace. Here are a few things to consider as you return to work.

  1. Social support is really helpful in moving through your grief. This can be support from your spouse, family, and friends but could also include social support from your supervisor or coworkers. Although telling your supervisor can be scary and awkward, it may also open up the door for more support (i.e., flexible work arrangements, time off, and delegation of tasks).

  2. Depending on your location and organization, you may qualify for bereavement leave. At the very least, you may be able to use sick days or family-medical leave to take some time off to recover. Unfortunately, organizational policies related to pregnancy loss are not always widely known or communicated. The best place to start would be your employee handbook or HR.

  3. Some women find returning to work to be therapeutic. It is a nice distraction from the grief and provides a sense of normalcy. However, while grieving it’s possible that you won’t be able to perform at the same level as before; especially when it comes to tasks that require emotional labor or deep concentration. Be gentle with yourself as you transition back to work.

  4. Flexibility at work during this time can be an invaluable resource. The ability to work from home while experiencing the physical symptoms that accompany pregnancy loss can be very helpful. Further, flexibility in when you work can also be extremely helpful, as you cannot predict when you will feel physical symptoms and will likely have a few doctors’ appointments to attend.

In our book chapter, “Invisible Grief: An Examination of Miscarriage in the Workplace” we explore what women go through as they return to work after a pregnancy loss. In this blog post, I provide a summary. If you’re interested in reading the full chapter, fill out the form below and I’ll send it to you!

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    Guide on What Not to Say

    One of the hardest parts of walking through pregnancy loss can be the words that people use to try and comfort us. This is a printable guide that you can give to friends and family to help them know what is helpful and what is hurtful.

    Books

    I Had a Miscarriage, as stated in the subtitle is both a memoir and a movement. Dr. Jessica Zucker, a psychologist who specializes in reproductive and maternal mental health, is the creator of the #IHadaMiscarriage movement. In this book she details her personal miscarriage journey, weaves in other women’s stories, and moves the conversation around miscarriage forward - pushing back against the societal norms of secrecy, silence, and shame.

    Grieving the Child I Never Knew is a 31-day devotional journal designed to help mothers process their loss and grieve well. Each devotion includes scripture, prayer, reflection questions designed to help women take steps toward healing, space for journaling, and readings for special occasions or holidays.

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    Podcasts

    1. Elegant Balance

      An Elegant Balance is a work-life balance beautiful in it’s simplicity and effectiveness. Passionate about finding elegance in the midst of the craziness, Kaylee Hackney PhD, shares the science behind work-life balance, practical tips, and plenty of love and encouragement to enable listeners to define and pursue their own elegant balance.

      Check out episode 10, “Invisible Grief: Miscarriage in the Workplace.” It is available in Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.

    2. The Worst Girl Gang Ever

      Miscarriage, infertility and baby loss podcast with Bex Gunn and Laura Buckingham. Honest conversations about unspoken experiences. It is available in Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.

    3. Sisters in Loss Podcast: Miscarriage, Pregnancy Loss, & Infertility Stories

      Sisters in Loss podcast spotlights faith filled black women who share their grief and loss stories and testimonies. Black women experience miscarriage and stillbirth four times more than white women according to the NIH and CDC. Whether you have experienced a miscarriage, infant loss, stillbirth, are trying to conceive or have an infertility diagnosis, you will learn about resources and strategies to heal, gain clarity, peace, hope, and find an empowering path forward after loss. Join Erica M. McAfee weekly as she interviews Sisters in Loss who have healed from such a painful and traumatic experience by sharing their testimonies to inspire and help others to turn their pain into their purpose. It is available in Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.

    4. The Joyful Mourning - A Podcast for Women Who Have Experienced Pregnancy or Infant Loss

      A podcast for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Listen in on honest conversations from real women as they share candidly about their own experience of loss and what it has looked like for them to navigate grief. If you have experienced the loss of a baby and are searching for hope and joy and just another mama who understands what you are going through, then this podcast is for you. If you are a friend or a family member of someone who has experienced the loss of a baby and are looking for ways to intentionally care for and love the one grieving, this podcast is for you too. It is available in Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.

    Facebook Groups

    List some support groups here.