Women pregnant after previous perinatal loss: relationships between adult attachment, shame, and prenatal psychological outcomes.

Background: Insecure adult attachment, shame, self-blame, and isolation following perinatal loss place bereaved women at risk of adverse psychological outcomes, which can impact child and family outcomes. To date, no research has considered how these variables continue to influence women's psychological health in pregnancy subsequent to loss.

Objective: This study explored associations between psychological adjustment (less grief and distress) and adult attachment, shame, and social connectedness, in women pregnant after loss.