Let's talk about miscarriage. It's often kept as a secret & not really discussed much, but the reality is it's common. Miscarriage refers to the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. It is hard to know how many miscarriages take place because sometimes a miscarriage can happen before the mother knows she is pregnant. The estimated figure is that miscarriage happens in around 1 in 4 recognized pregnancies, with 85% of those happening in the first trimester (weeks 1 to 12).
Below are three articles that may be helpful. The first is the author's first person account of losing her baby in the 17th week of her pregnancy. Nicole Prince writes about the heartbreak and returning home from the hospital without a baby. She also includes five tips for supporting those who have have experienced a miscarriage. Link = In Remembrance of Leo on Cupcakes & Cashmere blog
The second article is written by Meghan Merkle, Duchess of Sussex, for the New York Times Article reflects on the impact of miscarriage and how important it is to ask "Are you ok?". As a side, I am looking forward to catching a replay of her interview last night with Oprah. I've been told that she goes more in depth around her experiencing with postpartum depression, life in the spotlight, how she was treated by the Royals and suicidal thoughts. Hats off to her for speaking up. Link = Meghan Merkle article in New York Times
The third article is a practical article that talks about how emotional and physical recovery from a miscarriage takes time and patience. Link = https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/after-miscarriage/
Links to the articles that are mentioned above:
1) In Remembrance of Leo on Cupcakes & Cashmere blog
2) Meghan Merkle article in New York Times