Pregnancy loss support in India: where to actually get help

Immediate help

Tele-MANAS, the government's national mental health helpline, is free, confidential and available round the clock in Indian languages on 14416 or 1-800-891-4416. It is the most accessible starting point in the country and it takes calls from partners as well.

In an emergency, or if someone is at immediate risk of harming themselves, call 112.

KIRAN, the mental health rehabilitation helpline, operates on 1800-599-0019 in multiple languages.

For medical emergencies after a loss — heavy bleeding, fever, severe pain — call 108 for an ambulance.

Numbers and services change. If one does not connect, try another rather than concluding there is nothing.

What to ask your hospital for

A follow-up appointment with the obstetrician six to twelve weeks later to go through the findings. This is the single most useful thing to ask for and it is frequently not offered.

The results in writing, including the placental examination and any post-mortem, and an explanation of what they mean for a future pregnancy.

A referral to a counsellor or psychiatrist. Larger hospitals and government medical colleges have psychiatry departments, and asking the obstetrician for a referral is usually faster than finding one yourself.

Photographs, handprints and footprints if they were taken. Many hospitals keep them on file even when parents declined at the time, and it is worth asking later.

Help with paperwork — birth and death registration, discharge summaries, and insurance documentation.

And, for a future pregnancy, a note in your file so you are not asked to explain the history repeatedly.

Counselling, groups and rights at work

Perinatal mental health is a small but growing field in India. Ask for a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist with experience in perinatal loss specifically, and be prepared to travel or use teleconsultation — many practitioners in the metros see patients online across the country.

Government medical colleges and district hospitals have psychiatry departments and charge nominal fees, which matters because private perinatal counselling is expensive and often not covered by insurance.

Support groups exist online more reliably than in person in most Indian cities, and for many parents an online group of people who have had the same loss is the most useful thing they find. Look for moderated groups rather than open forums.

Employment: the Maternity Benefit Act provides for paid leave in the case of miscarriage or medical termination — six weeks immediately following, on production of proof — and maternity benefit continues to apply where a woman gives birth to a child who does not survive. Ask your HR department to look up the specific provision rather than accepting a general answer, and get the entitlement in writing.

Partners have no statutory bereavement entitlement in most Indian workplaces. Ask anyway; many employers grant leave discretionarily when asked directly.

And support for partners specifically is almost entirely absent in India, which means it usually has to be asked for. Tele-MANAS answers men, and so do most counsellors — very few are ever approached.

When to see a doctor

Same day, urgently: any thought of harming yourself or of not wanting to be alive. Tele-MANAS on 14416 is free, confidential and answers round the clock in Indian languages. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call now — 112 is the emergency number.

Within days: not sleeping even when you have the chance, not eating, being unable to function, panic attacks, hopelessness that is not lifting, or intrusive images and flashbacks of the loss.

Also see a doctor for the physical recovery — heavy bleeding, fever, foul-smelling discharge, severe pain, calf pain or swelling, or breathlessness — and attend the six-week check even if you feel physically well.

And return to your doctor if the grief is not shifting at all after several months, or if it is getting worse rather than easier.

This article is general information, not medical advice, and has not been reviewed by a clinician. Helpline numbers and legal provisions change — confirm the current position before relying on it.

This article is general information, not medical advice, and is no substitute for personal medical advice. For any decision about your or your child's health, please consult your doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Is counselling available free in India? — Tele-MANAS is free. Government medical colleges and district hospitals charge nominal fees. Private perinatal counselling is expensive and is not usually covered by insurance.

Q: Can I get leave from work after a miscarriage? — The Maternity Benefit Act provides for six weeks' paid leave following a miscarriage or medical termination, on production of proof. Ask HR to check the specific provision for your situation.

Q: Are there support groups in my city? — In-person groups are limited outside the metros; moderated online groups are widely available and are what most parents end up using.

Q: My husband is struggling and will not seek help. — Tele-MANAS on 14416 answers men, is free, and requires no appointment. Sometimes the fact that it is a phone call rather than a clinic is what makes it possible.