Emotional Campaign Honors Babies Lost to Miscarriage and Stillbirth
Clinical psychologist and writer Jessica Zucker started the #IHadaMiscarriage campaign in 2014 to discuss the impact of loss, how to provide support in these dark times and expel the “self-blame” ideology once and for all.
A recent clip on the campaign’s Instagram features powerful snippets of women opening up about the loss they’ve endured.
“Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month is upon us and we’ve decide[d] that replacing silence with storytelling is the most powerful way to honor ourselves and those we’ve lost. Representing our stories might be the very antidote to the lack of rituals that exist in our culture with regard to this fraught topic,” the caption explains.
Throughout the video, these grieving ladies share their miscarriages, stillbirth and pregnancy loss experiences, shedding light on an often “taboo” topic. At the end of the montage, Zucker calls others to action, encouraging them to “shed the stigma, shed the silence and replace the silence with storytelling.”
“We are actively stomping out the silence, bidding farewell to shame and saying so long to stigma… We are attempting to create [a] compassionate ritual where there is none,” the account explains.
Since the Instagram clip went live, it has already amassed more than 9,000 views and countless comments from others who’ve faced infant and pregnancy loss and applaud the doctor’s efforts.
“Thank you for doing this. When I went through my miscarriage in 2013, I don’t think my family knew how to help me or what to say. I turned to the internet to connect with other moms to get through the hard times. It helped me so much. I know it can help other moms as well,” says one mother.
Like many, this women found comfort in the movement, explaining “I’m currently going through my sixth loss, this time with identical twins. Needed this today.”
“I had two miscarriages back to back after trying to conceive for 15 years. No one around me could really understand how much it broke me. Not even my partner, who has been through it all with me. #IHadaMiscarriage has made a world of difference to me. It’s a place of gentleness and kindness, as we support each other in a way I have not seen or experienced elsewhere,” shares another.
Losing a baby to miscarriage or stillbirth is a tough blow to bare. After experiencing this tragedy, a natural reaction for most is to keep their emotions at bay. But compressing your feelings is never the way to cope with this grief. Join Zucker and countless others who’ve shared their story to end the silence.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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