Myth: A miscarriage isn’t like losing a baby

Miscarriage occurs before 23 weeks of pregnancy, but this does not mean that its impact is any less significant—physically or psychologically—for those who experience it (9).

People have varying views and experiences within and across different forms of pregnancy endings. Some who experience pregnancy loss in the first trimester may not view their loss as the loss of a baby (4,10), whereas others might.

Others may view the loss in the context of ‘the loss of possibility’ and what they imagined for their and their baby’s future rather than the physical loss of a baby (4,10).

People’s experiences and preferences regarding how they term their pregnancy (as a pregnancy, or baby) should be respected. 

References

(4) Frost J, Bradley H, Levitas R, Smith L, Garcia J. The loss of possibility: scientisation of death and the special case of early miscarriage. Sociology of Health & Illness. 2007;29(7):1003–22.

(9) Kelly-Harrington R, Hennessy M, Leitao S, Donnelly M, Murray C, O’Sullivan M, et al. PLACES | Pregnancy Loss (under 24 weeks) in Workplaces: Informing policymakers on support mechanisms [Internet]. Dublin: Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; 2024. Available from: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/0e7d5-places-pregnancy-loss-under-24-weeks-in-workplaces-informing-policymakers-on-support-mechanisms/. 

(10) Williams HM, Topping A, Coomarasamy A, Jones LL. Men and Miscarriage: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis. Qualitative Health Research. 2020;30(1):133–45.