What Not To Say To Someone Who Suffered A Miscarriage
Lifestyle - News
By ERIN METZ
15% of pregnancies result in a miscarriage, and pregnancy loss is difficult to handle and discuss; this can lead people to unknowingly say something insensitive to someone who has suffered from the devastating experience. You should keep a few things in mind in order to properly console someone about a miscarriage.
Normalizing miscarriages and being open to talking about loss is the first step toward hindering the stigmatization of the subject. When comforting someone who has miscarried, encourage them to share their thoughts while you listen with compassion; always begin with listening instead of offering inappropriately optimistic or motivating comments.
Comments like "everything happens for a reason," "It's all in God's plan," or "it's for the best" may be well-intentioned, but they will not be well-received by those who have miscarried. It is imperative to let the parent grieve the loss at their own pace without saying things that make their loss feel insignificant, or like it was "supposed" to happen.
Also, saying things like "At least it happened early" or "At least you didn't know the baby" can diminish your loved one's experience, while saying "at least you can get pregnant again" can cause anxiety about their next pregnancy. Remind the grieving parent to be patient with themselves as they heal, and offer to do chores or tasks that may take a load off them.