Reproductive loss often brings a tremendous amount of pain, whether it occurs by miscarriage, abortion, early infant death, premature birth, infertility, stillbirth, or special needs diagnosis. This type of grief is often borne in silence and with little support, as our culture generally doesn’t recognize these losses as significant.

There may be no memorial service. There may be no condolence cards. People may not even know you have experienced a loss.

“Compared to other types of mourning, like the loss of a parent or sibling, the loss of a child is associated with a grief experience that is particularly severe, long-lasting, and complicated…parents often find it hard to reconcile their intense feelings with society’s lack of validation.”¹

You may feel like a part of you has died. Like there is something wrong with you, or like you have lost your hopes and dreams. You may have many conflicted feelings, including anger, guilt, shame, and relief. You may see life now in terms of “before” and “after” your loss or have a desperate desire for more children.