Dealing with Grief and Loss After a Miscarriage

Bearing a child is perhaps one of life’s most fulfilling blessings. Those nine months of sleepless nights, worrying, and anxiety will be worth it once you see your little bundle of joy in your arms. However, that’s not always the case. Miscarriages do happen, and it’s can be quite devastating for any person, especially for a woman. Experiencing pregnancy loss can have deeply felt and long-lasting effects on a woman’s body and mind that can sometimes lead to depression. This guide aims to discuss how women can undergo emotional and psychological healing after experiencing a miscarriage.

Coping with Pregnancy Loss

Miscarriages can be as heartbreaking as losing someone you’ve known for a long time. Many women think that miscarriages aren’t a big thing since the baby they’re carrying hasn’t even arrived yet. Still, many women are actually surprised by the intensity of their emotions when they experience it. The feeling of shock, sadness, and even irrational guilt, can be overwhelming. Some women even feel anxious for future pregnancies or become afraid to try being pregnant again.

Such feelings are perfectly normal for anyone who’s experienced pregnancy loss. That’s why the emotional healing process after such a loss takes some time. You must allow yourself to grieve for your loss and let yourself heal emotionally and psychologically. Only then can you come to terms with what happened and move on.

Dealing with Intense Emotions

A miscarriage, by its technical definition, happens before 20 weeks of pregnancy. They’re mainly caused by a genetic abnormality that keeps the fetus from developing normally. There could be other factors in play, like the woman’s age, but it’s mostly influenced by genetics, which is something that’s purely out of any person’s control. Those misconceptions you hear about miscarriages being caused by exercising, working, and having sex are purely just myths that have perpetuated over the years. Yet, many women still blame themselves for the loss of their babies.

It’s only natural to find someone at fault for something heartbreaking as losing a child. But the truth is, there really is no one to blame. It’s also important to mention that women feel a rollercoaster of emotions in the weeks after a miscarriage. That, combined with the hormonal shifts she’s experiencing as her body reverts back to not being pregnant, can all exacerbate those emotions that she’s feeling.

Getting Help and Practicing Self-Care

Practising self-care is one of the most important things you can do to yourself while dealing with your loss. You still need to take care of yourself and your body as you recover from the miscarriage. Hydration and good nutrition, light exercise, and plenty of sleep are still needed for your recovery.

While your body recovers, you also need to look into how you can help your mind recover from what you’ve experienced. Having your partner and your family’s support is essential, but getting professional help through a therapist or counsellor is even better. Mental health professionals are more than capable of helping you deal with all those emotions that bombard your psyche and guide you to a healthy and gentle psychological recovery.

Conclusion

Losing a child through a miscarriage can be a painful experience for any parent. That’s why it’s important to deal with all your pain and the myriad of emotions you’re feeling with help from everyone around you. 

Chettiar Counselling and Associates offers a safe space for people dealing with psychological and emotional trauma. Whether you need anger management, anxiety or family counselling and support service in Guelph, our therapists are here to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.