● Grief can act in much the same way as other stressors.

These stressors
can trigger physical symptoms that may affect pregnancy.
Unit 2: Antepartum
The Normal Prenatal Client Effect of Grief on Pregnancy

First Trimester: Accepting the Pregnancy - Grief can affect pregnancy through its impact on hormone balance and
- The task of women during the first trimester of pregnancy is to accept production.
the reality of the pregnancy.
- Accepting the pregnancy for a partner means not only accepting the - Grief can cause an imbalance in serotonin production. It also raises the
certainty of the pregnancy and the reality of the child to come but also body’s cortisol, or stress hormone, levels.
accepting the woman in her changed state.
- Like women, partners may also experience a feeling of ambivalence. - Grief can also worsen symptoms that typically come with pregnancy. These
Second Trimester: Accepting the Baby could include aches and pains, sleep issues, and digestive problems. Combined
- The psychological task of a woman is to accept she is having a baby with a sudden loss, these symptoms may become more intense.
- This change usually happens at quickening
- Women often use the term “it” to refer to their fetus before quickening Self-centeredness (narcissism) may be an early reaction to pregnancy.
but begin to use he or she afterward.
- A good way to measure the level of a woman’s acceptance of her coming
baby is to measure how well she follows prenatal instructions.
- As a woman begins to actively prepare for the coming baby, a partner
increasingly may feel as if he or she is left standing in the wings, waiting
to be asked to take part in the event.
- Some men may have difficulty enjoying the pregnancy because they have
been misinformed about sexuality, pregnancy, and women’s health.
Third Trimester: Preparing for Parenthood
- During the third trimester, couples usually begin “nest-building”
activities, such as planning the infant’s sleeping arrangements, choosing a
name for the infant, and “ensuring safe passage” by learning about birth.

Grief
● A period of intense sorrow or mourning.
● Usually occurs after a specific and sometimes traumatic event
● A pregnant woman affected by grief may have a different experience than
someone who is working through a mental issue like depression.