Miscarriage and Mental Health
Miscarriage is a traumatic experience that affects every woman differently, but it can cause grief, anxiety, melancholy, and even PTSD symptoms (PTSD). Anxiety and depression in many women after a miscarriage can continue for years, even after the delivery of a healthy child. When deciding whether a woman is at risk of prenatal or postnatal depression, previous pregnancy loss is rarely included with other risk factors such as a family history of depression, stressful life events, or a lack of social support. Women who have had one or more miscarriages may develop a mental illness months or years later. Some evidence suggests that men and women may be affected for up to 15 years after a bereavement.