How to Show Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Abortion in a Genogram
Pregnancy losses belong on the family line itself — they attach to the couple’s children row like any pregnancy, in birth order, not to the mother’s individual symbol. Users often ask “do I put it on my mom or the fetus?” — the answer is: it gets its own small symbol in the sibling row.
The notation
Miscarriage (spontaneous loss)
A small filled circle (a dot) hanging from the family line in its place among the siblings, usually with the year.
Induced abortion
A small X in the sibling position, dated. Some conventions add a short line through it to distinguish from other losses.
Stillbirth
A smaller-than-normal gender symbol (square or circle) with the deceased X through it, dated — acknowledging both the sex, when known, and the death.
Ongoing pregnancy
A triangle in the sibling position marks a current pregnancy.
How to draw it in GenogramAI
- 1Add the loss in its birth-order position among the couple’s children
- 2Use the pregnancy-loss options on the person (miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, pregnancy) and add the year
- 3The correct small-symbol notation renders automatically and appears in the key
Frequently asked questions
Do I record a miscarriage on the mother or as its own symbol?
As its own small symbol on the couple’s family line, placed in birth order among the siblings. It represents the pregnancy, not an attribute of the mother.
What is the genogram symbol for miscarriage?
A small filled circle (dot) in the sibling position, usually dated. Stillbirth uses a small gendered symbol with an X; induced abortion uses a small X.
Where do pregnancy losses go in birth order?
In their actual chronological position among the pregnancies — e.g., a loss before your birth is drawn to your left, as siblings are ordered oldest-to-youngest left to right.
Draw it correctly, automatically
GenogramAI renders standard notation for you — describe your family and the symbols come out right.
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