Breaking the Silence: Raising Awareness about Pregnancy Loss and Mental Health
Breaking the Silence: Raising Awareness about Pregnancy Loss and Mental Health
Loss
Pregnancy Loss, Infancy Loss and Mental Health
October is the month of awareness for both, Breast Cancer and Pregnancy and Infancy Loss. Because breast cancer is often at the forefront of awareness for October, I’d like to talk more about Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness.
“Pregnancy and Infant loss should not be taboo. It should be spoken about and normalized in discussion.”
Facts about Pregnancy and Infant Loss:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Both miscarriage and stillbirth describe pregnancy loss, but they differ according to when the loss occurs. In the United States, a miscarriage is usually defined as loss of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy, and a stillbirth is loss of a baby at 20 weeks of pregnancy and later."
1 in 4 women have experienced a miscarriage.
A high percentage of miscarriages occur due to genetic issues. One genetic issue that comes to mind is the MTFHR gene, which you can learn more about in a previous article I’ve provided MTHFR Gene. What is it? Why is it Important? .
The costs of perinatal mental health problems indicate, up to 20% of women develop a mental health problem during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth.
Let's not forget that
Women who miscarry or experience early infant loss will experience grief on top of the mental health condition that has developed as well as hormonal fluctuations.
Pregnancy and Infancy Loss Impact on mental health:
self-blame
guilt
ruminating thoughts
feeling isolated
difficulty concentrating
fatigue
triggered by medical visits or menstrual bleeding
intrusive thoughts
flashbacks
nightmares
negative thoughts
suicidal thoughts
low self-esteem
feeling hopeless
Ladies you should know:
You are not broken
Yes, you are a mother
No one deserves to lose a child
There will be moments you cry less and moments you cry more.
You grieving and your body is readjusting to live without the hormonal surge you were experiencing while pregnant
There are many women in your circle who have probably experienced the same loss, but have not spoken to anyone about it
Miscarriages and infant loss are traumatic experiences
Asking for help can be difficult. However, YOU don't have to suffer in silence. There is support out there.
How to start the healing process:
Build Community- Find Online/Local Support Groups. Ask your primary care physician about local Miscarriage and Infancy loss support groups.
Seek Counseling- Search for a counselor specializing in Grief or Perinatal Mental health. I have provided a list of providers below who may be licensed in your state.
Memories-Purchase or create a space with memorabilia that will comfort you and your family.
Held Your Whole Life is a wonderful resource that provides customized jewelry.
Walter’s Bears provides a custom weighted bear the weight of your loss child. Many women have found holding a bear the weight of their child to be a comforting.
Focus on your self-care. Be sure to explore the Worthy of Royalty Self Care Products offered on this website, with it you'll receive 25 to 52 practical tips for self-care. This list saves you time and effort by giving you easy and inexpensive ideas that can be done in 15 minutes or less.
Just a few months back, I reached out to my colleagues and was able to obtain the following mental health practices and clinics that specialize in Pregnancy and Infancy Loss.
Counseling Services Who Specialize in Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Grief
California
https://www.milestonebhcs.com/
Florida
https://distinctivelyyoursllc.org/
Georgia
Michigan
http://www.maternalcounselingservices.com
https://peaceandharmonyllc.com
Virginia
https://distinctivelyyoursllc.org/
For Virtual Therapy Services
https://theperinatalnp.com/contact-us/
Just a reminder, pregnancy and infant loss impacts fathers as well.
Men to Heal held a discussion titled Pregnancy and Infancy Loss: A Father’s Grief, which you can view here.
Compassionate Words For Someone Grieving
In honor of my friends, family, my clients, blog readers and myself, I'd like to remember the babies and children who were called to the heavens. Parted from family too soon. Held their whole lives and embraced with love.
Develop New Habits
When we don’t speak on difficult, yet normal topics, we feed the stigma. I’m making it a habit to normalize these issues in my counseling space. Are you making it a habit to make this topic a normal discussion in your circle?
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If you wish to share information about your angel baby or children please do so in the comments section. Share what you are comfortable with. I’ll be sure to respond to your comment when I receive the notification.
Additional Items That May Support Healing:
Thank you for reading this article. I hope you find it helpful as you continue on your wellness journey. Here are some tools that I use as a practitioner that I hope you’ll also find helpful. Some are affiliate links, so if you decide to use any of them, it will continue supporting A Solution B by providing services to clients experiencing financial hardship.
Memorial Ornament: This Miscarriage Ornament provides a tangible reminder that your pain is acknowledged and valid. It also symbolizes your unique journey and serves as a tribute to the strength and resilience you have demonstrated. This particular ornament has a significant phrase that may resonate with your experience.
You Will Get Through This: Hope and Help Through Your Tribulant Times. During a difficult journey, a dear friend provided me with this book, You Will Get Through This, that turned out to be a guiding light in my darkest moments. With each page I turned, its words wove themselves into the tapestry of my experience, which offered solace. This book help me to navigate my journey. It enabled me to find meaning my experience. If you don't agree with Christian teachings, this book may not resonate with you because it includes them. If you prefer to audio books, you can sign up to Audible plus and get up to two free audio books.
Written By: Reynelda Jones, LMSW-C, CAADC, ADS, CIMHP
CEO and Lead Therapist at A Solution B, LLC
If you're in need of working through stress, anxiety or trauma and feel you would benefit from a holistic therapeutic approach, Contact me today for a session.
Join my Facebook Community, The Wellness Solution: Mind. Body. Home . The Wellness Solution community is open to women who seek wellness using holistic approaches by taking steps to address their mind, body, and home. In this group, members ask and answer questions, encourage, and support one another.
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