Women should be advised to allow adequate time after stillbirth before next pregnancy

Some clinicians have argued that women need time to recover emotionally after stillbirth and before beginning the next pregnancy, but without systematic evidence to support this. In a cohort study (p 1721) Hughes et al found that in the pregnancy after stillbirth women showed significantly higher depression and state anxiety in the third trimester than control women, and that the difference was accounted for by women who conceived within 12 months after the stillbirth. These women were also more depressed 1 year after the next birth. Women who conceived more that 12 months after stillbirth were similar to their controls at all points. Women may need a year to recover after stillbirthor perhaps those who become pregnant quickly are more vulnerable to depression and anxiety.

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Relevant Article

Stillbirth as risk factor for depression and anxiety in the subsequent pregnancy: cohort study

P M Hughes, P Turton, and C D H Evans
BMJ 1999 318: 1721-1724. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]