The silent support marathon: men’s role and experience in pregnancy after prior pregnancy loss

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy loss (PL) occurs in ∼25% of pregnancies. The negative psychosocial impact of PL on women is well documented and there is growing evidence that men are negatively impacted as well. After a PL, most couples try to become pregnant again. In a subsequent pregnancy, both partners report feeling anxious about the safety of the new pregnancy and worried about miscarrying again. After PL, partners are the main source of support for women but we know less about their role in a subsequent pregnancy. The research question that guided this abstract was: What is men's role and experience in a new pregnancy after prior PL? METHODS: Dyadic (joint) interviews were conducted with 15 couples over four time points in a new pregnancy after PL (once after pregnancy test, once in each trimester). The participants were recruited from a national cohort study of couples with PL in Denmark. Interviews were conducted in person or online. For this abstract, data specific to men's role and experience was extracted and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS: An overall theme: “the silent support marathon” reflected the men's role as supporters of their pregnant partners. Men described a feeling of exhaustion and needing endless stamina to support their partners through the ups and downs of the conception and pregnancy process. They described internal pressure and perceived pressure from their partners to be the “strong” one. Being strong was both a coping strategy and a burden. Men coped by trying to remain optimistic about the pregnancy but also not getting their hopes up. Men also felt they were “silent” and their needs were invisible and unacknowledged by health care providers in the new pregnancy. They wished for tools and advice on supporting their partner and coping with their own worries and anxieties about the pregnancy. They wanted health care providers to acknowledge their role in the process and to take a “couple focused” approach. KEY MESSAGES: • Men play an important role in supporting their partner with the worry and anxiety in a new pregnancy after PL. However they are impacted by pregnancy worries as well. • A couple focused approach is needed to promote overall family health and well-being.