Hey, Jooce babes! We know life can feel like a rollercoaster, especially when your body…
When dreams turn into nightmares: Miscarrying
Life throws curveballs, right? Some are amazing, like finding out you’re pregnant! But sometimes, those curves take us on a path we never expected, like losing a pregnancy early on. This experience, called a miscarriage, is more common than you might think – it happens to 1 in 4 pregnancies.
It’s a heavy topic, but at Jooce, we believe knowledge is power, especially when it comes to understanding and coping with something this sensitive.
Understanding what happened:
A miscarriage, or spontaneous abortion, happens when a pregnancy ends before 20 weeks. It can occur anytime, even before you know you’re pregnant. Here are some terms you might come across:
- Early loss: This could be a chemical pregnancy, which happens super early and might seem like a heavy period
- Possible loss: You might experience spotting or cramping, but there’s still a chance the pregnancy continues
- Inevitable loss: This means the bleeding and cramping are getting stronger, and a miscarriage is happening
- Confirmed loss: This can be “complete” (all pregnancy tissue passes naturally) or “incomplete” (some tissue stays in the uterus and needs medical attention)
- Silent loss: This is called a missed miscarriage, where the pregnancy stops developing without any bleeding or pain, often only noticeable on an ultrasound
- Repeated loss: This happens when you have three or more miscarriages in a row
If you experience any of these:
- Bleeding, light or heavy, in different colours (red, brown, pink)
- Cramping or pain in your belly, mild or severe
- Passing tissue or clots from your vagina
- Suddenly losing pregnancy symptoms like nausea, tiredness, or sore boobs
See a doctor right away.
This is super important: a miscarriage is not your fault. In up to 70% of cases, it’s because of problems with the chromosomes in the embryo, meaning it just wasn’t meant to be. Other things that can play a role, but are less common, are health conditions, issues with your uterus, infections, and lifestyle choices.
Finding support and healing:
Miscarriage can be incredibly emotional and isolating. It’s crucial to reach out for support and allow yourself to grieve. Surround yourself with loved ones who can offer comfort and understanding. Remember, you’re not alone in this.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with the silent grief of miscarriage, please know there are people who care. Support groups, therapists, and others who’ve been through something similar are there to help.
At Jooce, we hold space for the immense pain of miscarriage. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted. Please never hesitate to reach out and share your story, or simply know that you’re heard and supported.
Additional resources:
- March of Dimes: https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/miscarriage-loss-and-grief
- American Pregnancy Association: https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/pregnancy-complications/pregnancy-loss/
- The National Council on Family Relations: https://www.ncfr.org/
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