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Pregnancy After Loss parent guide

Pregnancy After Loss

A guide for navigating your pregnancy journey

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Before you begin

Foreword

After the loss of a baby, another pregnancy can bring many different feelings — hope, fear, longing, guilt, love, and uncertainty. You might feel these emotions one at a time, or all at once. Both are completely normal.

This guide is here to support you — whether you are just beginning to think about another pregnancy, feeling unsure about what comes next, or are already pregnant. There is no single path forward, and no right time to take the next step.

Our intention is to offer gentle support, trusted information, and space to reflect so you can explore what feels right for you and your family, in your own time and in your own way.

We hold space for your grief, your strength, and your hope.

What you’ll find in this guide

  • Beginning gently — a space to pause and reflect
  • Planning for another pregnancy and waiting
  • Caring for your mental health and wellbeing during a pregnancy after loss
  • The early weeks of pregnancy and first appointments
  • Pregnancy care with your maternity care team
  • Birth and your baby, and the postpartum period
  • The early days with your baby
  • The future and parenting
  • Information and resources
  • Closing note
  • Commonly used medical terms

About this guide

This guide was carefully created by a team of parents, healthcare professionals, researchers, and support organisations— many with personal experience of pregnancy and baby loss. Together, they have worked to share the information, insights, and support they believe are most helpful during a pregnancy after loss.

The information comes from the latest Care Around Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Clinical Practice Guideline (CASaND Guideline), developed by the Stillbirth CRE in partnership with the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ). These are the same guidelines your care team may use to guide your care. 

This guide presents the same information tailored for parents using clear, easy to understand language. It also includes practical tips, emotional support tools, and space to reflect. While it doesn’t replace individual medical care, it may help you feel more informed and more confident to ask for the support you need.

Although the CASaND guideline and this guide focus on stillbirth and newborn loss, parts may also support those who have experienced early pregnancy loss. 

This guide was developed by the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (Stillbirth CRE), based at Mater Research in Brisbane, Australia in partnership with the Stillbirth Foundation Australia. 

We kindly acknowledge the generous support from the Australian Government and the Nine Telethon Mater Little Miracles campaign.

stillbirth cre logo
mater research
Stillbirth Foundation Australia

To view our other resources for care around pregnancy and baby loss, please visit: carearoundloss.stillbirthcre.org.au

To contact the team, please email: stillbirthcre@mater.uq.edu.au

Publication date: June 2025
Version: 1.0
Next review due: June 2028

© 2025 NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (Stillbirth CRE), Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

Her illustration shows a baby in the shape of two hearts within the womb — representing the heart of the baby and the heart of the mother. It reflects the deep connection during pregnancy, a sacred time when two heartbeats are carried together, until the baby is born or returns to the Dreaming. 

Acknowledgement of Country  

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which this guide may be read—the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples—whose rich cultures and traditions have long honoured the sacred journey of life, loss, and renewal. 

We pay our respects to Elders past and present and recognise their deep and enduring connection to the lands, waters, and skies of Australia.

In creating this guide, we also honour the diversity of families who walk this path. Australia is shaped by many cultures, religions, and traditions. We recognise the unique ways families from all backgrounds honour their loved ones and navigate the experience of pregnancy and baby loss — and the journeys that follow. 

Artist acknowledgement

We gratefully acknowledge Valerie Ah Chee, a Nyoongar Bindjareb and Palyku woman, midwife, and member of the Stillbirth CRE, for sharing her artwork and cultural insight in this guide. 

Her illustration shows a baby in the shape of two hearts within the womb — representing the heart of the baby and the heart of the mother. It reflects the deep connection during pregnancy, a sacred time when two heartbeats are carried together, until the baby is born or returns to the Dreaming. 

Used with permission. Valerie has contributed to this project with care and intention.

Acknowledgement of lived experience  

We honour and remember all babies who have died during pregnancy, birth, or soon after. Their lives have left a lasting impact. 

We are deeply grateful to the parents and families who have shared their experiences of pregnancy after loss.

Your voices bring compassion, strength, and insight to this guide.

Whether you’re thinking about another pregnancy, currently pregnant, or supporting someone on this path — we honour your experience and courage it takes to move forward with hope.

Western Pacific Regional Office of the International Stillbirth Alliance
Coordinating Centre, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Alliance, Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand

Level 3, Aubigny Place
Mater Research Institute
Raymond Terrace,
South Brisbane QLD 4101
The University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine

General Enquiries
stillbirthcre@mater.uq.edu.au
+61 7 3163 2567
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