Supporting parents during and after a pregnancy subsequent to a perinatal loss

The experience of perinatal loss can be devastating for couples who want ch ildren. The decision and desire to attempt another pregnancy may be too muc h for parents to bear, yet the majority of women who experience perinatal l oss do become pregnant again soon after the loss. A pregnancy after a perin atal loss can be mentally, emotionally, and physically taxing. The anxiety experienced by mothers during a subsequent pregnancy has been documented co nsistently by investigators, but less is known about the effects of perinat al loss on parenting subsequent children. Perinatal and neonatal nurses pla y a critical role in supporting parents during and after a subsequent pregn ancy and need an understanding of the research to direct their practice.