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Reproductive Loss and Its Impact on the Next Pregnancy

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Motherhood in the Face of Trauma

Part of the book series: Integrating Psychiatry and Primary Care ((IPPC))

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Abstract

Reproductive loss is identified as a unique loss due to the mother’s relationship to the fetus or baby she didn’t get to know. Elements of this loss are discussed as are the differences among the range of reproductive losses. While much of the research and clinical literature focuses on normative or maladaptive grieving, many of the ingredients of resilience–including making meaning, continuing bonds, posttraumatic growth, and having a positive and active engagement in life–are elaborated. Many clinical suggestions are offered, especially the challenges of supporting the mother in the often anxious pregnancy following this loss. An empathic responsiveness to the mother’s distress and concerns is cited as the critical ingredient in whatever interventions are chosen

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Reproductive loss refers to the range of pregnancy losses (e.g., miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, perinatal loss, stillbirth, intrauterine fetal demise, and pregnancy termination for fetal anomaly or elective abortion), as well as infertility, neonatal loss, and a birth parent loss of an adopted child.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Health System, 2311 E. Stadium Blvd., Suite 208, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA

    Irving G. Leon PhD

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  1. Irving G. Leon PhD
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Correspondence to Irving G. Leon PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    Maria Muzik

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    Katherine Lisa Rosenblum

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Leon, I.G. (2018). Reproductive Loss and Its Impact on the Next Pregnancy. In: Muzik, M., Rosenblum, K. (eds) Motherhood in the Face of Trauma. Integrating Psychiatry and Primary Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65724-0_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65724-0_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-65722-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-65724-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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