EMOTIONAL EFFECT OF EP After the operation (for the ectopic) I was in complete shock. I had just found out I was pregnant and then it was suddenly all over. Not only had I lost the baby but I felt physically damaged 3365 The emotional effect of Ep can be complex and con fusing. The diagnosis of EP can be difficult, the patient may feel anger and frustration. Any pregnancy loss can be as devastating as the loss of an older child to sud den infant death syndrome. The parents have lost an imagined child and can suffer deeply. Often the emphasis of health care providers is on the danger of EP and the threat of loss of life. Loved ones may focus on the relief of maternal survival and ignore the loss of the pregnancy. Other family members such as grandparents and children may also be grieving but not know how to acknowledge the loss of the anticipated child. When the loss of the anticipated child is not acknowledged, the patient may feel abandoned and angry. Loss of a first-trimester preg nancy can put stress on the parents' relationship, as griev- ing processes may differ. EP may stimulate feelings of per sonal failure, jealousy toward other pregnant women, or worry about future fertility and the possibility of having another EP