If you have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), or the death of a baby, you may be looking for support, answers, or both. You may want to understand whether genetics could help explain what happened, think about another pregnancy, or not be ready to consider any of these questions. There is no required order or timeframe.
People use different words for pregnancy and baby loss. Use the language that feels right for you and your family.
Sometimes a chromosome or genetic change contributes to a pregnancy or baby loss, and genetic testing or other investigations may help provide an explanation. Sometimes no clear cause is found, and sometimes testing is not possible.
Genetic testing is only one part of the broader investigation into pregnancy or baby loss. What may be useful depends on the circumstances, the stage of pregnancy, clinical findings, samples available and family history. A maternity, bereavement or genetics team can help you understand what investigations were completed and what the results mean.
If results were explained when you had a lot to take in, or if they arrive later, you can ask for a dedicated follow-up appointment to go through them again and ask for copies of the reports.
If you later want to revisit the genetics questions, a pre-pregnancy appointment can help review what was found, what remains uncertain, whether further testing is available and what may be relevant in another pregnancy.
Depending on your circumstances, options may include trying for a pregnancy without testing for the family condition, earlier specialist pregnancy care, screening or diagnostic testing during pregnancy, or IVF with embryo testing if a specific genetic change is known in the family and PGT-M is possible.
Explore reproductive options when a genetic condition is involved →
For broader evidence-based information about care, wellbeing and support in a pregnancy after loss, the Stillbirth CRE Care Around Loss program has a dedicated Pregnancy After Loss guide.
Free, confidential support for anyone affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a baby or child. Red Nose offers professional grief support and lived-experience connection.
Red Nose grief and loss support →
Specialist peer support and information after miscarriage and early pregnancy loss, including trained peer connection and helpline support.
Pink Elephants Support Network →
Specialist Australian information and support for parents considering, planning or recovering from termination for medical reasons (TFMR), including wellbeing support and practical information after an unexpected prenatal diagnosis.
Through the Unexpected: termination for medical reasons →
Evidence-based parent resources after stillbirth and neonatal death, including information about investigations, the Living with Loss program and Pregnancy After Loss. It also includes Jiba Pepeny (Star Baby), a resource made by Aboriginal people for Aboriginal families experiencing stillbirth and Sorry Business.
Stillbirth CRE: Care Around Loss →
If you want additional therapeutic or mental health support, your GP, maternity or bereavement team can also help you find a psychologist, counsellor, perinatal mental health service or other appropriate support.
GAA can help with the genetics side of these questions: whether a genetics referral may be useful, locating previous reports, preparing questions and connecting with genetics or condition-specific services. GAA does not determine why a loss occurred or provide bereavement or grief
