This Isn’t What It’s Supposed to Look Like
You have a story within you — a dream to become a mother. Each of our stories is unique, yet we all long for our dreams to manifest. Sadly, not all of our stories go the way we plan, and they end in heartache.
1 in 4 women will experience a pregnancy loss, or miscarriage. And stillbirths affect about 1% of all pregnancies.
The Pain of Miscarriage and Stillbirth
Finding your way through the pain of a miscarriage or stillbirth is excruciating. The devastation of your loss is intense and your days and nights are overcast with a deep sadness.
Not only are you grieving the absence of your baby and the loss of your pregnancy, you’re also grieving the loss of your dreams. Your story isn’t unfolding how you envisioned.
Following your miscarriage or stillbirth you may feel or experience:
- Hopelessness
- Disbelief or shock
- Intense sadness and depressed
- Anger or outrage at your body
- Trouble concentrating or memory loss
- Loss of confidence in your abilities and/or body
- Separated or disconnected from the rest of the world
- Feeling “fine” one day, and struck with intense grief the next
- Exhaustion and significant loss of energy or motivation
- Disinterest in engaging in activities or social outings
- Fearful of trying again or experiencing another loss
- Guilt that you caused your miscarriage or stillbirth
- Avoidance of other women who are pregnant or have children
- Angered by the insensitive remarks of others regarding your loss
While there is no timeline for grief, prolonged grief can develop into depression. The following are signs that may indicate depression and require help from a mental health professional:
- Extended loss of appetite and/or sleep that impacts your functioning
- Unable or unmotivated to get out of bed all the time
- Thoughts about not wanting to be alive anymore (even if no actual plan exists)
Grieving for Your Miscarriage or Stillbirth
You may feel alone with mourning your loss. For many, pregnancy loss is an invisible grief that is experienced in private. You don’t have to suffer alone! Counseling after your miscarriage or stillbirth can support your heavy heartache, validate your experience, and hold space for your lost dream.
Counseling following your pregnancy loss or stillbirth can address:
- Returning to work after your loss
- Regaining confidence and reclaiming your spirit
- Making sense of the days, weeks, and months ahead
- Dealing with the exposure to children and families
- Honoring your loss or baby with special rituals or memorials
- Setting boundaries about what details you reveal to your friends/family
- Improving your connection and communication with your partner while grieving
- Emotionally preparing for due dates, anniversaries, and situations when you’re painfully reminded of your loss or baby
Surviving the grief of your pregnancy or stillbirth is heartbreaking. You don’t have to suffer alone!
If you’re in the Atlanta area, and would like support through this difficult time, I would be honored to hold space for you. Schedule your free consultation to discuss how we can get started with working together.