Early Pregnancy Loss
I’m so sorry if you’re struggling to cope after losing a baby during the early stages of pregnancy.
Sadly, these losses happen for many different reasons, including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and molar pregnancy. Or, there may have been a difficult decision about whether to terminate the pregnancy, for medical or social reasons.
These experiences can be traumatic. Understanding that early pregnancy loss affects you on three different levels, may help to explain why it can be so distressing.
- Physically – there may be severe pain and bleeding, invasive tests, surgical procedures…
- Psychologically – difficult emotions arising from the grief of loss – shock, despair, sadness, anger, numbness, guilt…
- Socially – you may feel isolated from family and friends who might be pregnant/have a baby and not know how to cope with the divergent feelings of their joy amidst your pain…
Added to the difficulties experienced in these three areas - other people sometimes just don’t seem to understand the depth of your feelings and their comments can discount your grief and despair. Medical staff may have attended to your physical needs but neglected your emotional needs.
It might feel as though people just want you to hurry up and get better but please know that whatever you are feeling right now – it’s ok, take your time.
I recognise that this can be a very frightening and lonely experience and it’s hardly surprising if you feel you can’t get over it.
Part of the road to recovery will be by allowing yourself to experience your emotions and to express them. Once you can do that, the hurt will start to heal.
Talking to someone impartial, outside your circle of family and friends, can really help. It allows you talk freely, without fear of causing upset or being judged.
The truth of what’s happened will be heard and understood. There’s a relief in being validated in this way.
Above all, be kind to yourself on the road to recovery.
My personal and professional life has led to my commitment to this specialism. I spent ten years working for the NHS in an Early Pregnancy Unit. This first-hand knowledge and experience helps me to understand what you’re going through.
We can organise online sessions or you can see me in person at my practice near Taunton close to the Somerset/Devon border.
Please feel free to ask me anything or to check availability by sending a message via the contact page.
