Coping with Pregnancy Loss

Pregnancy loss can leave us with many unanswered questions, and knowing where to find answers is not always clear. This book is for you if, like me, you've been affected by any kind of pregnancy loss - currently or in the past. It provides practical advice and self-care strategies to help you cope during or after loss, alongside ideas that will enable you to make sense of what's happened - including understanding your feelings and choices; outlining what you can expect during and after your loss; ways to navigate physical and mental health care (if appropriate); and thinking about how to remember your baby. It's for charities, support groups, therapists, and healthcare professionals who want to provide support and care. We all react - and cope with loss - in different ways, and this book respects diverse needs when it comes to getting information and help. You don't have to feel like you are going through your loss alone. In this book you'll find reflection exercises, self-help resources, and stories and suggestions from other people about how they survived, which should leave you feeling more confident and better able to seek additional support if you need it.

Petra Boynton has a PhD in Applied Human Psychology. Her research specialism is sex and relationships and she has taught at several UK universities, most recently at UCL from 2002-2014. In 2014 Petra ran a public awareness project with the Miscarriage Association identifying the needs of partners affected by miscarriage and resulting in a multimedia project (film, cartoon and an information booklet) that led to international press coverage (http://theresearchcompanion.com/partners-too-how-to-make-a-public-awareness-campaign) Petra is also an Agony Aunt/Advice Columnist and has worked for the past 13 years providing information on health and relationships to the public via the media (print, online and broadcast media including Grazia, Men's Health, and since 2012 at the Telegraph). She has used this experience to advise governments and global healthcare agencies and is experienced in discussing complex and emotional topics in sensitive and accessible ways.

1. Welcome 2. Facts, figures, and symptoms of pregnancy loss 3. How to manage your loss 4. What to expect from healthcare 5. Your emotions during and after pregnancy loss 6. Making sense of what has happened 7. The needs and feelings of partners 8. Taking care of you 9. Looking out for your relationship 10. Moving forward 11. Deciding to try again (or not) 12. Pregnant after loss 13. Remembering Sources of Support