You don’t have to go through this alone.

Learn more about the emotional impact of miscarriage.

Miscarriage affects 10% to 20% of known pregnancies.

Yet it’s something many people don’t talk about.
This silence can lead to feelings of isolation.

Miscarriage can bring up a mix of emotions, including:

  • Sadness and depression

  • Guilt or self-blame

  • Shame or feeling judged

  • Isolation

  • Anxiety

People experience miscarriage differently

Up to half of those who have a loss are diagnosed with depression. For some, the feelings can linger for years. It’s also normal to feel relatively okay.

Understanding grief

It’s normal to be surprised by the depth of your emotions. Grief after miscarriage can feel overwhelming, especially because today’s medical technology allows families to see and bond with their baby early in pregnancy.

Unfortunately, friends and family may not fully understand the loss or may unintentionally minimize your feelings. You might also feel isolated from your partner.

Research shows that families who receive intervention and support following a loss report lower rates of depression and anxiety.

A unique kind of loss

Miscarriage is especially difficult to cope with, because the experience is permeated with ambiguity and most often is unexpected, allowing only a short time to prepare. Contributing to the ambiguity is the absence of a person to bury and of memories of time together to treasure and grieve. Instead, only the dream of a wished-for future can be mourned, usually without any clearly established rituals or adequate support.

— Dr. Norman Brier