Becoming pregnant again after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss can bring a flood of conflicting emotions—hope, fear, guilt, relief, grief. It’s not the same as a first pregnancy. And it’s not something that most people talk about openly.
If you’re pregnant again after a loss, you might feel like you’re holding your breath through each milestone. Joy can feel fragile. Excitement can feel unsafe. And the fear of loss can shadow even the most beautiful moments.
This is not uncommon. And it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It means your heart remembers what it went through—and your body does too.
You’re Not Starting From Zero
Unlike first-time pregnancies, this one doesn’t begin with a blank slate. There’s a story already written in your body and your memory. Maybe it ended before you were ready. Maybe it involved trauma, medical complications, or a deep silence no one could comfort.
Even if the people around you see this pregnancy as a “fresh start,” you might not. You might be navigating both anticipation and heartbreak at the same time.
That’s not a contradiction. That’s what grief and hope look like when they coexist.
What Can Show Up Emotionally
In therapy, we often hear things like:
- “I’m scared to get attached.”
- “I don’t want to jinx anything.”
- “People keep saying ‘everything’s fine now,’ but I don’t feel fine.”
- “I feel guilty for not being more excited.”
Pregnancy after loss is not just a medical journey—it’s an emotional one. You might feel disconnected from your body. You might brace for bad news at every appointment. You might even feel like you’re grieving the baby you lost while trying to bond with the one growing now.
That doesn’t make you a bad parent. It makes you human.
Therapeutic Support for the Road Ahead
At Adonis Therapy, we hold space for all of it. The conflicting emotions. The fear of getting hopeful. The loneliness of feeling misunderstood. The desire to celebrate, but not knowing how.
Here are some ways therapy can support you during this time:
- Processing unresolved grief from previous loss
- Building trust with your body again
- Practicing emotional regulation during triggering milestones or medical appointments
- Navigating anxiety about birth, parenting, or attachment
- Finding rituals and language to honor both experiences
We also explore ways to speak openly with partners, loved ones, or medical providers who may not fully understand how nuanced this journey is.
This Pregnancy Deserves Care, Too
Just because this isn’t your first time navigating pregnancy, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve support. In fact, the emotional toll of loss makes compassionate, trauma-informed care even more essential.
You are not broken for needing more reassurance this time. You are not selfish for grieving and celebrating simultaneously.
This pregnancy may not erase the pain of the last, but it can exist in its own truth—with support that honors both the loss and the life.
We’re Here for the Journey, Not Just the Outcome
Our practice offers perinatal therapy that recognizes the layers behind the smile, the story behind the silence. We walk alongside you—not to “fix” your emotions, but to hold them with care and help you navigate the unknown with gentleness.
📍 Culturally affirming perinatal therapy available to clients in Maryland and Virginia.
🌐 Schedule a consultation to find a space that sees the full picture.
