Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Loss Support

admin

The emotional toll from a traumatic event can be devastating not only for you and your partner, but also for those that are closest around you.  People grieve differently and find ways to deal with their emotions, there is no set time frame for recovery and for some it can take a long time, however it is important to understand that you are not alone and there are support services available to help you and your partner navigate this emotional process.

What you may be feeling


Some people find it extremely difficult to talk about what has happened after a pregnancy loss.  Every miscarriage is different and there is no right or wrong way to feel, the way you feel will depend on your circumstances, your experience of miscarriage and what the pregnancy meant to you.


Perhaps your miscarriage occurred in the first few weeks of pregnancy or the final trimester.  It might not have been your first miscarriage, you may have felt something wasn’t quite right or it may come as a complete shock without any symptoms. This pregnancy may have been particularly close to your heart.


It is not uncommon to feel a range of emotions that include feeling angry, guilty, empty, jealous, sadness, numbness, disappointment and confusion.  Many women experience the tendency to play back the situation inside their head to try and find out if something they did caused the miscarriage, this is very unlikely and there is usually nothing that could have been done to prevent the miscarriage, the cause may never be known.

Support Services

Remember that there are plenty of support services available to women and their partners who have experienced miscarriage.  Many find counselling and support services very helpful for recovery and can encourage the relationship between you and your partner to strengthen.

Your hospital can provide you with a list of available support services that include:

SANDS – 1300 072 637 – is an independent organisation that provides support for newborn death, stillbirth and miscarriage.

Pregnancy Birth and Baby – 1800 882 436 – Call for trusted advice and emotional support anytime 7 days a week.

Bears of Hope – 1300 11 HOPE –Provides grief support and care for families who experience the loss of their baby.

Support

Why Do Miscarriages happen?

admin

Miscarriage occurs when an embryo or fetus is expulsed from the womb before 20 weeks of pregnancy and is most common in the first few weeks and before 14 weeks.  Studies by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) revealed that pregnancy loss within the first trimester account for 85% of all miscarriages with an estimated 1 in 5 recognised pregnancies end in miscarriage. Miscarriage is common and happens for many different reasons, it is also common to have a miscarriage be American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)fore a women even realises she is pregnant.

It is important to understand that miscarriage isn’t your fault or is it related to the lifestyle choices. Even though it is common to miscarriage, the general population is misinformed about the causes of miscarriage and are unaware of the facts. A survey published found that more than half the people surveyed believed miscarriages only occurred in 6% of all pregnancies, in addition a high percentage believed that lifestyle choices play a role in miscarriage which simply is not the case.

A majority of miscarriages can be linked back to genetic causes. Chromosomes are made of protein and one molecule of DNA containing genetic instructions, chromosomes come in matching pairs and a baby would inherit one pair from each parent. When genetic material is mixed to form a baby, our biology may identify cells that are abnormal and therefore not destined to continue.

It is also widely understood that age can play a role in miscarriage with rates increasing as the age of the mother increases.  There is a 6% change of miscarriage for women under 35 years old and this rate doubles for women aged between 35 and 40 years old.  The chances of miscarriage for those over 40 years old are a staggering 23%.

Miscarriage myths exposed

I was stressing too much during my pregnancy

Although extensive stress is not healthy for anyone let alone during a pregnancy, there is no biological evidence to suggest stress is a factor in miscarriages.  Regardless, if you were feeling stressed out because you were moving houses at the time and had an argument with your removalists or thought that lifting heaving objects could have caused a miscarriage, it would be highly probable that none of us will be here today.

Exercising during my pregnancy

The fact is that most experts agree that exercise is encouraged during pregnancy to help prevent the risk of developing diabetes and would make mother and baby healthier.  It can also help elevate stamina and strengthen pelvic muscle for labor.

Intercourse caused my miscarriage

The baby is protected by the amniotic sac and strong uterine muscles, during sex the uterus is never entered and contractions from orgasms cannot cause a miscarriage.  Fear of injuring the fetus is common during early pregnancy however studies have found no association between intercourse and pregnancy outcomes. It is still important to adopt safe sex to protect you and your baby from sexually transmitted infections.

Myths