The stress of a miscarriage can be dangerous if left untreated

Based on a survey conducted by Imperial College London, 4 out of 10 women are at risk of experiencing trauma and stress disorders due to their miscarriage. Apart from miscarriage, women who have an ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb) are also likely to experience stress and trauma, although the risk is not as big as women who miscarry.

Risk of PTSD mental disorders in women who miscarry

In the study, published in the journal BMJ Open, the research team surveyed 113 women who had either a recent miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. The majority of the women in the study had a miscarriage at around 3 months of gestation, while about 20 percent had an ectopic pregnancy in which the baby started growing outside the womb.

Miscarriage affects 1 in 4 pregnancies that occur. Miscarriage is defined as the loss of a fetus before 24 weeks of age, although most cases of miscarriage occur before 12 weeks of fetal age. Miscarriage can occur due to various reasons including age, hormonal changes, lifestyle, uterine condition or other physical problems. Ectopic pregnancies are much less common, accounting for 1 in 90 pregnancies.

The survey results also showed that four out of ten women reported having symptoms post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) three months after losing her prospective baby. Traumatic and stress disorders due to miscarriage are also based on stressful events that are frightening and sad. So it is not uncommon for someone to remember the incident through nightmares, flashbacks, thoughts or images in unwanted moments.

Symptoms can start weeks, months or even years after the event and can lead to sleep problems, anger, and even depression.

Women who have had a miscarriage need psychological support to deal with trauma

Researchers from Imperial College London say the findings suggest that women are routinely monitored for the condition, and receive specific psychological support after cases of lost pregnancies.

There are certain assumptions and myths in society that also influence. He said, pregnancy cannot be published if the pregnancy itself is not at least 3 months old. Worse yet, this also applies if there is a miscarriage within 3 months of pregnancy. Well, unfortunately this hidden thing can cause deep pain in women. The psychological effects of this loss should be discussed and addressed, not even buried alone with your husband.

Furthermore, nearly a third of the participants said that symptoms of trauma and stress had an impact on their work life, and about 40 percent reported that their relationships with friends and family were affected. Dr Jessica Farren, lead author of the study from the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial said that this study shows that women should have the opportunity to discuss the emotions they feel with a medical professional.

Tips for dealing with stress and trauma after a miscarriage

In the following, there are several ways or steps that you can follow if you are struggling with the post-miscarriage effects that you want to skip:

You can start by counseling a psychiatrist or psychologist. They can provide answers to questions that may calm your mind and heart, and can also recommend steps for further counseling.
Find friends and family who if you can be someone you can rely on to support the process of healing your feelings. Try talking to an experienced relative to pour your heart out deeply.
If symptoms of trauma or stress from miscarriage last more than 2 months, request follow-up testing for PTSD. Because many studies have found that 25% of miscarriage victims meet the risk criteria for experiencing PTSD a month after the miscarriage.

If you do have PTSD, there is no need to be ashamed to ask a psychiatrist for help. Psychological and psychiatric illnesses also require treatment that is as important as physical illness. You also have the right to live a healthy and happy life.