Key Considerations when working with Perinatal Loss

Description

Reproductive loss is common and affects many individuals on the path to parenthood. One in five women will experience miscarriage, not including those impacted by other forms of loss such as terminations, ectopic pregnancies, stillbirth, neonatal death, or SIDS. The loss of a baby is a devastating experience at a time typically associated with joy and new beginnings. Perinatal loss is often sudden, traumatic, and may occur without a clear explanation, triggering intense emotional responses such as fear, anger, shame, guilt, loneliness, and helplessness. Grief following perinatal loss may be prolonged and has distinct features compared to other forms of bereavement.

A significant proportion of individuals who experience perinatal loss develop persistent psychological distress, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress (Daugirdaitė et al., 2015; Farren et al., 2016; Gold et al., 2014; Gold et al., 2016; Hunter et al., 2017). Research also indicates that perinatal loss increases the risk of antenatal anxiety in future pregnancies (Bayrampour et al., 2018).

This presentation will explore the psychological impact of perinatal loss and offer guidance on therapeutic adaptations for working with grief in this context. It will also consider how clinicians can support the broader family system, including the couple relationship and existing children.

Learning Objectives

1. Define perinatal loss and describe how grief in this context may differ from other forms of bereavement.
2. Identify common psychological impacts of perinatal loss, including risks for depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
3. Apply core clinical considerations for assessment and therapeutic support when working with individuals and families experiencing perinatal grief.

About the Presenters

Dr. Sarah Healy is a leading clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience in perinatal mental health. She specializes in supporting individuals and families through the emotional challenges of pregnancy, loss, and early parenthood.

Dr. Healy is the founder of The Perinatal Psychology Practice and co-director of the Pearl Institute of Perinatal Psychology, where she trains and consults with mental health professionals across the UK and internationally. She brings a warm, evidence-based approach to her work, drawing on advanced training in CBT, EMDR, Behavioural Couples Therapy, CFT, and ACT.

A trusted expert in her field, Dr. Healy has co-authored national policy guidance, including the NHS Talking Therapies Perinatal Competency Framework and Perinatal Positive Practice Guide. She is also a sought-after speaker and educator, with a special focus on perinatal loss in both her clinical and training work.

Dr. Kyla Vaillancourt is a clinical psychologist with over a decade of experience in perinatal mental health across NHS primary care and specialist services. She is trained in therapies focused on maternal mental health, couple dynamics, the parent-infant relationship, and parenting, and provides supervision and training to professionals working with families during the perinatal period.

Dr. Vaillancourt completed her undergraduate psychology degree in Toronto, followed by a Master’s in Early Child Development and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at King’s College London. She is currently undertaking a Clinical Academic Doctoral Fellowship at City, University of London, funded by the NIHR, focused on implementing observational tools to support mother-infant interactions in specialist perinatal services.

Her clinical and research interests include reproductive trauma and loss, maternity staff wellbeing, and reducing inequalities in perinatal mental health care. She is a member of the BPS Perinatal Faculty Committee.