Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR) is a, seldom spoken of, type of bereavement in pregnancy. Parents make the heartrending decision to end a wanted pregnancy due to health concerns for either the baby or the Mother or birthing person.

TFMR has long been considered a traumatic experience.

Nearly one-half of birthing parents develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within four months of termination.

The grief experienced is often disenfranchised, and parents can be left with feelings of self blame. When a disenfranchised loss intersects with trauma, bereaved parents often experience isolation and require increased support.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) can be effective in relieving a TFMR parent’s sense of shame and guilt. This can make it easier for parents to talk about their experience with others and be less socially isolated as they mourn their baby.

Lauren Redding has written a case study showing how EMDR can help after TFMR.

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