From loss to closer bonds: Pregnancy loss and the emotional bonds with children in later life

Having a pregnancy end without a live baby can result in mixed effects to the relationship with one’s living children, but this has mostly been examined in the first years after the loss. Research is needed to understand the implications for relationships in later life. Thus, the current study examined whether losing a pregnancy was associated with the relationship with one’s adult children. The study used data from the Survey of Health and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). It examined a sample of women aged 50+ who experienced stillbirth over their life and a comparison sample of women who didn’t experience stillbirth. Regression models were used to assess the association between experiencing stillbirth and the parent–child relationship. The results showed that women who lost a pregnancy reported more emotionally close relationships with their adult children. These results indicated that losing a pregnancy could have long-term implications on the relationship with one’s children in later life. These women might have been more likely to invest in the emotional bonds with their children.