For individuals having to deal with the traumatic experience of loosing a baby

1. Miscarriage Support To advise, support and offer guidance to those who are going through the tragic loss of a baby.

2. Miscarriage Support I personally have been through loosing my baby, I am not a professional and nor am I qualified in any way but as I have mentioned I have had personal experience of dealing with the loss of a baby. I know how hard it is having to deal with the shock and the many emotions you go through in the roller coaster ride in the grieving process. I want to help women like myself, I cannot give answers and I do not have a magic wand to make this all go away. But if I can help in any way by sharing my experiences, offering advice and support or helping them with any concerns or questions they may have then I will do everything I can. To turn this negative experience into a positive one.

3. Important facts on miscarriage A significant number of pregnancies end even before the woman is aware she is pregnant but between 15-30% of confirmed pregnancies result in miscarriage. The most common cause of miscarriage is from foetal death due to abnormalities Other causes include infection, hormone factors, immune problems and disease in the motherExercise and intercourse do not cause miscarriage The risk of miscarriage is higher for women over 35 A D & C operation (Dilatation and Curettage) to clean the uterus is recommended after some miscarriages, but may safely be avoided in certain circumstances.Medical intervention is available for some women with recurrent miscarriages

4. Important facts on miscarriage What Is A Miscarriage A miscarriage is when a foetus aborts before 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is also known as spontaneous abortion.It is a common problem. About 15 percent of all known pregnancies end in miscarriage. About half of all conceptions are also believed to be lost, normally before the mother is aware she is pregnant.Most miscarriages occur before the 13th week of pregnancy. Thirty percent of miscarriages that occur before the 8th week have no embryo inside the sac.Most women who have miscarriages have a high chance of having a healthy baby when they get pregnant again. However, about one percent of women will have repeated miscarriages and need medical intervention to identify the reasons for this.Women who have had two miscarriages in a row have a 35-40 percent chance of having another miscarriage. http://invitrofertilitygoddess What Are The Symptoms of Miscarriage? The first sign of a miscarriage may be stomach cramps (similar to period pain) and a small amount of bleeding. This is known as a threatened miscarriage and in many cases the symptoms will settle. A scan may confirm that all is well.Women who do have a miscarriage will experience heavy bleeding, blood clots, nausea and painful cramps. The foetus may be seen and if more than four months pregnant, it could be alive.Many miscarriages are incomplete and some placenta will still be inside the uterus. In these cases women are given a dilatation and curettage (D & C), to remove any remaining tissue.The cause of a miscarriage usually goes undetected in the majority of women, mainly because up to 90 percent of women who have just had one miscarriage will go on to have a healthy baby.Women with recurrent miscarriages can have an extensive medical examination involving blood testing to identify genetic problems, and hormone levels in the mother.The uterus will be tested for infections and the structure of the uterus can be examined with a CAT scan or MRI.In many cases the cause is not identified. Up to two thirds of recurrent miscarriages will be for unknown reasons.

5. Important facts on miscarriage What Are The Causes of Miscarriage? The most common cause of miscarriage is foetal death due to genetic abnormalities that occur when the foetus is developing. Sixty percent of all miscarriages in early pregnancy are due to genetic defects.In some cases a fertilised egg does not attach itself to the wall of the uterus, or attaches itself to the wrong place.Bacterial infections in the uterus may also be responsible for some miscarriages. However, infections can also be present in women who also have successful pregnancies.Abnormalities in the uterus can also cause miscarriage. Fibroid tumours in the uterus and other structural problems can stop a foetus from implanting properly.Women's own immune system may also have a role in pregnancy loss. It is believed some women's immune systems actually attack the placenta, instead of allowing it to help grow the foetus.Alcohol, smoking and some medications may increase the risk of miscarriage.Drugs to treat malaria, acne and cancer have been linked to a higher rate of miscarriage.Other problems such as diabetes and thyroid disorders are also linked to miscarriage. What Are The Myths about Miscarriage? There are many myths about miscarriage which have never been scientifically proven.There is no evidence that exercise, working or intercourse increase the risk of miscarriage.There is no evidence that working at a computer screen increases the risk of miscarriage.There is no evidence that hair spray or hair dye increases the risk of miscarriage. www.fashion-res.com

6. Important facts on miscarriage What Can be done to Help? Women who have a miscarriage are usually given a dilatation and curettage (D & C) immediately after the pregnancy loss. This is to remove any remnants of the pregnancy.Rest is important for women have just had a miscarriage because they are likely to feel physically unwell and emotionally upset.The bleeding will slow after a complete miscarriage or D & C, and completely stops after one week. Do not have sexual intercourse while you are bleeding or this could cause an infection.It is recommended to have at least one period before getting pregnant again. It is possible to conceive just two weeks after a miscarriage.Many women will feel grief after a miscarriage and they should express these feelings. Fathers may also feel grief. A funeral or a farewell ceremony can be helpful for some couples.Treatment for recurrent miscarriage will depend on the cause. Assessment is usually done in specialised units.Couples who have a genetic defect which may be causing the miscarriages may need counselling to come to terms with the issues.Surgery is an option for women with abnormalities in the uterus, but this has no guarantees for a successful pregnancy in the future.Women whose immune system is believed to be reacting against the pregnancy can take medication to help control this. Getting Help Your doctor, midwife, or local hospital will be able to help www.thebabywebsite.com/article.253.Miscarriage_-_The_Facts.htm http://static.howstuffworks.com

7. My Personal Experience As I have already stated I am not in any way medically qualified but have suffered the loss of a child and know how much this terrible experience can make you feel so useless, alone and very scared with many unanswered questions. Do not feel you have to face this alone there is a wide variety of support out there and I will provide details of these later. Talk to your partner as he/she will also be in emotional turmoil at the minute and men do not initially get the support they need, but I cannot advise about that for the obvious reasons. My first miscarriage was in 2007 I had already carried a child who was born perfectly healthy with no problems throughout pregnancy. But with my second I knew from the start that something was not right I cannot put into words why but it was just a feeling I had. I thought I was in my second semester but the scan showed the baby had died at 8 weeks I was mortified I cannot explain in words how I felt the terrible shock I suffered and the many emotions I felt. Since then I have had thirteen more but don’t worry this will not usually happen unless something is wrong and medical test will be taken to find the problem and support will be given.

8. Emotion women may experience Feelings Common feelings experienced by those who have miscarried include: Shock; Confusion; Sadness and regret; Loneliness; Guilt; Tiredness; Anger; Jealousy www.healthgiants.com Don’t worry these emotions are normal and you may experience these as well as others after suffering from a miscarriage. Do not feel that you are wrong to experience these emotions it is normal within the grieving process. They will help you to move on from the tragic experience. Do not try to hide from these emotions by using alcohol or drugs etc work with these alongside medical professionals and try to turn this negative experience into a positive one. Focus on things you have got in your life to be happy about not what you have not. Also because you have suffered a miscarriage does not always mean you will not have a perfectly healthy baby in the future so please don’t do any harm to your body as this would only cause these feelings to worsen and prevent you from getting the support you need.

9. Support available There are various different support networks out there for couples who have lost a child depending on what you feel comfortable with and most importantly that suits your needs. I will give a short overview of these and then provide these on a separate slide for you to use if you feel ready to take that step and the time is right. Your GP will be able to advise you on what he/she may be best suited to you as they know you already. Your GP Surgery will have a counsellor or Psychiatrist who will be able to guide you through this difficult time. If there is not one available you r GP can refer you to one at the local hospital. Support groups are available within some areas for people who have suffered baby loss it may help to actually speak to others who have or are going through this. Such as Pregnancy Loss support Group. Counsellors are also available at your local hospital if you had to have medical treatment for a miscarriage. Online support groups where other individuals have also gone through this experience. Miscarriage Association Centres such as the Laura centre that are charitable organizations Also books and leaflets are available if you feel you need more information or would like to do reading into miscarriage http://images.yuku.com

10. Remembrance A number of women are left with a sense of emptiness and have a feeling of everyone around them ‘forgetting’ their child when for the parents it is not so easy. Just because the child was not born, it was still your child celebrate the life. http://img03.picoodle.com There are a number of ways that you can do this: A personalised teddy or cushion as it helps many women having something to cuddle. A memorial plant or tree Write a poem or letter to you baby Have a memory box A piece of jewellery Photo frames Babies lost from miscarriage are often referred to as angels these can be found anywhere i.e. Pictures, statues etc Plaques/ornaments There are many ways in which you can do this and everyone will be different dependant on the individual do this in anyway you can and anyway you feel is right for you and your child.

11. Partner, Friends and Family Women may feel alone as this is one of many emotions felt when a miscarriage occurs. Though this is normal when a women is ready she should talk to those around her about her thoughts and feelings as this will help her not only to feel better within time but also make her closer with those around her. Don’t be worried about people not coming to you to talk about the situation as this is a sensitive issue they may feel as useless in a different way. They may be scared to talk with you about this and may not know how to act around you. If you go to them and talk they will be a lot more comfortable and help you in any way they can.

12. Support Available Miscarriage support Net leaflets and fact sheets available www.careforthefamily.org.uk www.babyloss.com Provides information and support www.silentgrief.com Child miscarriage and child loss support website Lifeline Pregnancy Counselling and care www.lifelinepregnancycounselling.com Miscarriage information and resources www.fertilityplus.org/faq/miscarriage/resources.html Miscarriage Support miscarriage.homestead.com/ Grief support clinics www.griefwatch.com/support_groups.htm Trove exploring the experience of miscarriage and support nla.gov.au/anbd.bib-an44485554 Miscarriage at home www.miscarriagesupport.org.nz/home.html Miscarriage Association 01924200799 The Laura Centre Registered Charity 01162544341 Pregnancy Loss Support Group 01162586259 Miscarriage The Site ORG gives information on support groups locally www.thesite.org/sexandrelationships/.../miscarriage Miscarriage support groups www.bellaonline.com/subjects/6461.asp Facing Bereavement UK volunteers available for local support www.facingbereavement.co.uk/CopingMiscarriage.html Support groups local and national www.handonline.org/pdf/support.pdf Grief support groups www.griefwatch.com/support_groups.htm Pregnancy, Conception & Birth Book by Miriam Stoppard Miscarriage: Women's Experiences and Needs by Christine Moulder Hidden Loss: Miscarriage and Ectopic pregnancy edited by Valerie Hey

13. Thinking about trying again Many couples want to start again as soon as they recover from their miscarriage while others decide to wait. Whatever your choice it is important that you are both ready. www.cm.iparenting.com When you decide you want to try again make sure you sit down with your partner and make sure it is what you both want. Also it is important to make sure you have received all the help over the loss of your child, as in future pregnancies it is not uncommon to experience worry of some kind over your unborn babies health. Remember having suffered a miscarriage does not mean that you will not always mean you will never have a healthy baby in the future. You need to both be ready and want the same thing, and communication is a big part in making sure you both have each others support in dealing with any future pregnancies.

14. References http://www.thebabywebsite.com/article.253.Miscarriage_-_The_Facts.htm http://invitrofertilitygoddess.com/wp-content/uploads/fetus.jpg http://www.fashion-res.com/EX/10-08-03/miscarriage.jpg http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/miscarriage-4.jpg http://images.yuku.com/image/gif/0f71671008c76d841313e46436c4a2c85b3b1bf4.gif http://img03.picoodle.com/img/img03/8/4/24/f_BabyAngelm_c805fb8.jpg http://www.cm.iparenting.com/fc/editor_files/images/1042/ipgraphics/mumdadme/MUM20.jpg