New Study Looks at Loss & Grief

A Spanish study examines the psychological effect on women who’ve experienced loss during their pregnancies. The results were published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing. The researchers interviewed women who’d lost one or both babies in a monochorionic twin pregnancy. Monochorionic twins are identical twins that share a placenta. 28 women were included in the study, and individual interviews were done. The researchers also collected data regarding their pregnancies, the women’s psychiatric histories as well as socio-demographic information. The women all completed a number of questionnaires regarding grief, depression and anxiety.

Number of weeks didn’t matter on the intensity of grief

The researchers found that greater levels of grief after loss equaled increased symptoms of depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress. The intensity of grief did not depend on how far along the women were when they experienced a loss. It didn’t depend on a history of miscarriage or whether or not they lost one or both babies. The presence of living children didn’t have an impact on the intensity of grief. The study concluded that the loss of one or more babies in monochorionic twin pregnancies have a considerable emotional effect and leave mothers vulnerable to psychological problems.