“If it has happened once, it can happen again”. The impact of previous pregnancy loss on anxious women's ongoing pregnancies: A qualitative study from Pakistan

Abstract

Background

Pregnancy loss that includes both miscarriage and stillbirth cause significant psychological distress for women including anxiety, depression, and grief that persist long after physical recovery. This study focuses on the experiences of women in Pakistan, where pregnancy loss rates are high.

Objective

To explore how pregnant women with anxiety symptoms and a history of pregnancy loss perceive their past experiences with the loss and how it affects overall well-being in their current pregnancy.

Design

Qualitative methods were used to explore the impact of previous pregnancy loss on the well-being of pregnant women.

Setting

This qualitative research was embedded within a randomized control trial conducted in a tertiary care facility in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Participants

Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 18 pregnant women who had experienced pregnancy loss. Data was analyzed using Framework Analysis.

Findings

The findings revealed several factors influencing participants' well-being during pregnancies that resulted in a loss, such as unsupportive and abusive environments, unintended pregnancies, certain superstitious beliefs, poor health, and lack of access to quality healthcare. The study also highlighted the adverse impact of previous pregnancy loss on the ongoing pregnancy, including deterioration of physical and mental health and aversion of healthcare services. However, some participants reported positive changes in medical and self-care practices and an enhanced faith and reliance on destiny in their subsequent pregnancies.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the lasting impact of past pregnancy loss on subsequent pregnancies, affecting overall wellbeing and leading to healthcare avoidance. We identified persistent anxiety along with positive outcomes like enhanced medical practices and strengthened faith. Results suggest the need for culturally responsive interventions to support the overall well-being of anxious pregnant women with a history of pregnancy loss in resource-constrained settings.