The pain of another loss hits home again. Not for me this time, but for someone dear to me.
As we talked today some of the same sentences were said. Sentences I have said to myself, to others about myself, to others in consolation of their own loss.
But as I said them today I heard just how hollow they are. And the pain hit me, hard, in a way I hadn’t expected because I thought I had buried it deep, deep down. No actually I thought, it was a pain that I didn’t have the right to feel.
Today I realised just how wrong I have been.
Miscarriage is not selective, or fair, or for the best, or better because it was early. It’s not okay because you already have a baby, or two, to hold and cuddle and smell their sweetness. It is still loss and it takes a piece of you away with it.
For a couple of years the miscarriages around me were more consuming than the births. Very close friends of mine lost many pregnancies in every circumstance, early, late after announcing it to everyone and daring to be excited. For all of them each loss was another first that was never to be. Not only does the pain of the loss, the dragging disappointment, the pang of missing what will never be hurt like hell, but the overwhelming fear that this is their lot may be even worse. I don’t know, my losses were not my first.
This week as part of Never Forgotten: Mamamia's Pregnancy Loss Awareness Week we're remembering the babies we've lost. Post continues below.
Top Comments
I am so sorry for your losses and your straight-from-the-heart article hit home with me. I'm sure it resonated with many others. Blessings to you, Ellen
Every word of your article is true Laura. I've had 7 miscarriages of no known cause. I was in my early 20s for the first and ironically studying to be a nurse. I didn't know what was wrong as I'd not known I was pregnant, so I spent the day in the uni health centre and went home when I felt able, completely unaware of the tragedy that had just unfolded. The 7th miscarriage was in my very late 30s and by then, I knew the signs and symptoms of both being pregnant and losing that pregnancy. I've been poked and prodded and stabbed and scanned and all they can tell me is, its extremely unlikely I will ever carry a baby to term. I always lose them at about the 10th week......However each time I got pregnant, I'd get my hopes up and feel excited and pop to the doc for the blood test and without fail, I was always just that tiny bit too late. I've gotten very. sick of hearing "I'm so sorry, the blood test shows you were pregnant but aren't any more". So at age 40 (now) I've gone on the pill because I simply cant cope with a number 8 and I intend to live a different life to that I had planned when I was a teenager.
Its amazing the stupid things people say when they're trying to be sincere. One heavily pregnant woman said "ah well at least you don't have to worry about morning sickness! ". My own mother said (about one of the 7) "its probably for the best, you're too fat to be pregnant anyway!!!!!!!" I could go on for a fair while about well meaning or just outright stupid comments. I cried when I wanted to and for 6 weeks post most of them, I ate drank and did what I wanted. My GP was quite concerned as I'd stopped working. So I simply pointed out that I just needed a bit of "shore leave" from life and I'd be back on board soon. I tell everyone to swear, cry, throw stuff. and most of all talk to someone you're close to. Esp the babies' father if he's in your life, as dad's feel miscarriages too but it's like society just expects them to pick themselves up, dust off and get back to normal! !!! What heartless emotional pig thought that up??
Anyway that's my lengthy story. Hope it helps one person.