When a pregnancy ends

When a pregnancy ends

If you're reading this article, perhaps your pregnancy has ended, or you're afraid it might. Whatever you feel, sadness, anger, emptiness, relief, or all of these at once, it's valid. There's no right way to go through this. Here's accurate information, your rights in France, and where to find support.

It's not rare

A miscarriage is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy before 22 weeks of amenorrhoea (counted from the first day of the last period), according to the Assurance Maladie (France's national health insurance). A major review published in The Lancet in 2021 estimates that it affects 15.3% of recognised pregnancies, or around one in six to seven. Overall, 10.8% of women have had one, 1.9% two, and 0.7% three or more. It's rarely talked about, but you're not alone.

It's nobody's fault

According to the Assurance Maladie, a single miscarriage is most often caused by a chromosomal abnormality, and it isn't the woman's fault. You don't have to carry that guilt. If questions keep going round in your head, ask your doctor or midwife: answering them is part of their role.

Signs that need urgent attention

In early pregnancy, the Assurance Maladie advises seeking help straight away if you have:

• heavy bleeding, especially with a feeling of faintness;
• bleeding with tissue passing;
• bleeding with pain in the lower tummy, on one side or all over;
• bleeding with a fever;
• signs of shock: weakness, dizziness, confusion, a racing heart, nausea or vomiting.

For a medical emergency in France, call 15 (SAMU) or 112.

Your rights in France

• Sick leave with no waiting days. The law of 7 July 2023 removed the waiting period for sick leave after a miscarriage before 22 weeks of amenorrhoea; the measure has applied since 1 January 2024. You're paid from the first day, under the usual eligibility conditions. This covers employees, craftswomen, shopkeepers and self-employed professionals. The leave is prescribed by a doctor who confirms you're unable to work.
• Protection from dismissal. If the miscarriage happens between the 14th and 21st weeks of amenorrhoea inclusive, your employer can't end your contract during the following 10 weeks, except for serious misconduct or a reason unrelated to the miscarriage.
• A support pathway. The same law requires each regional health agency (ARS) to set up, by 1 September 2024 at the latest, a pathway bringing together medical professionals and psychologists, in hospitals and in the community, to better support women and their partners. Your doctor or midwife can tell you how it works near you.
• Reimbursed psychologist sessions. Through the Mon soutien psy scheme, the Assurance Maladie reimburses up to 12 sessions a year with a partner psychologist, at 60% of a €50 session fee; the rest can be covered by your top-up insurance. No prescription is needed, but your doctor or midwife can refer you.

Your partner too

A pregnancy that ends also affects the person who shares your life, sometimes differently, sometimes later. The 2023 law allows midwives to refer your partner for psychological support as well.

Finding support

• Agapa supports people affected by miscarriage, abortion, termination for medical reasons or perinatal loss: individual support, support groups and meet-up cafés, also by phone or video. Phone: 01 40 45 06 36. Email: contact@agapa.fr. Website: association-agapa.fr.
• Petite Émilie supports families around termination for medical reasons and perinatal loss, with a peer-support forum. Email: petiteemilie@petiteemilie.org. Website: petiteemilie.org.
• Your doctor, midwife or maternity unit can also point you towards other resources near you.

If you're in distress

After a miscarriage, the risk of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress goes up, the Lancet review points out. What you're going through isn't "nothing". If you feel overwhelmed, are thinking of harming yourself or can't see a way out, call 3114, France's national suicide prevention line. It's free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; trained nurses and psychologists answer. Your loved ones can also call if they're worried about you. If you're in immediate danger, call 15 or 112.

Afterwards

Take the time you need, without comparing yourself to anyone. When you feel ready, your doctor or midwife can help you see more clearly about what comes next, whatever that is. In Lovae, your tracking is still there, at your own pace.

This article is for information only. Lovae is not a medical device and does not replace medical advice. If you have bleeding or pain during pregnancy, seek help straight away.

Sources

• Légifrance · Article L1225-4-3 du Code du travail (protection contre le licenciement après une interruption spontanée de grossesse)
• The Lancet · Miscarriage matters: the epidemiological, physical, psychological, and economic costs of early pregnancy loss (Quenby et al., 2021)
• Ameli · Miscarriage (in French)
• Ameli · Bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy (in French)
• Service-Public.fr · Emergency numbers (SAMU, fire brigade...) and helplines (in French)
• Ameli · Miscarriage and termination for medical reasons: sick leave with no waiting period (in French)
• Légifrance · Law No 2023-567 of 7 July 2023 to promote psychological support for women who have had a miscarriage (in French)
• CAF · Better supporting working women after a miscarriage (in French)
• Ameli · Reimbursement of psychologist sessions: the Mon soutien psy scheme (in French)
• Agapa · Listening and support after perinatal loss, abortion, termination for medical reasons or miscarriage (in French)
• Association Petite Émilie · Support around termination for medical reasons and perinatal loss (in French)
• ARS Centre-Val de Loire · 3114: the national suicide prevention line (in French)

Official sources, accessed in September 2026.