• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Fertility Topics
  • Fertility Therapies
  • Hormone Health
  • Nutrition
  • Success Stories
  • PROGRAMS
  • ARTICLES
Natural Fertility Info.com
  • Shop Products
  • PROGRAMS
  • ARTICLES
Natural Fertility Info.com

Natural Fertility Info.com

Natural Fertility tips, information, herbs, supplements and more

  • Shop Products

Uncategorized

5 Ways Women Wish People Would Help Them During a Miscarriage

Elizabeth Willett - M.A., Certified Herbalist
July 25, 2021
Reviewed by Christine Traxler, MD

The loss of a child, including pregnancy loss, is an experience deemed the #1 most stressful life event a person can go through.

Miscarriage brings up an overwhelming array of emotions – fear, worry, sadness, anger, denial, and guilt – and cultivates a number of questions – Why did this happen to me? What did I do wrong?, etc. Many understand and acknowledge this emotional aspect, but what is less considered is the physical impact pregnancy loss has on the female body.

It is important that family and friends acknowledge both the emotional and physical needs of a woman experiencing a miscarriage. The ideas below are great ways to support and encourage a mother and her partner who are experiencing miscarriage. Through these 5 services, you will be offering them love, support and the hope they need.

1. Allow Her Time to Heal

Miscarriage takes time to happen naturally. The grieving process often takes more time than the physical process taking place. While doctors can support women through the physical act of miscarriage, the natural process of grieving has no time frame and is participated in differently by each and every woman. Give her all the time she needs to process the entire event.

Besides the physical and emotional reactions to miscarriage, grief also has physical and emotional reactions within the body; it is draining. According to the American Pregnancy Association, “physical reactions include: poor appetite, disturbed sleep patterns, restlessness, low energy, and other pains. Emotional reactions may include: panic, persistent fears, nervousness and nightmares.“ Encourage communication when these feelings arise and understand that a grieving woman or couple may truly want to be alone.

2. Be There to Listen!

It may be hard to know what to say, or if anything should be said at all. Simply sit and listen, and most importantly, listen before you speak. This is not the time to minimize or undermine the experience, criticize or judge the mother and father, give advice, try to solve the problem, or come up with a reason why the miscarriage happened. Know that there may not be answers to the questions a woman has and, as a friend or family member, you cannot solve the problem.

Actively listen by making eye contact, offering a hug, hand holding, grabbing a tissue or two, grinning or smiling when appropriate, and being emotional too if need be.

A woman experiencing a miscarriage needs to be able to open up about her personal feelings, which may help others understand what she is going through. Sharing emotions will help you offer her the best support for her needs.

Friendly reminder: sometimes simply saying, “I just don’t know what to say,” may be the most helpful thing to say.

3. Help Honor the Loss

Help observe the pregnancy loss in a way that is meaningful to the parents and that honors the experience. Honoring pregnancy loss has the power to support healing by validating feelings and acknowledging the loss of a life.

Having a ceremony, making art, jewelry or meals, saying prayers, creating altars, lighting candles, writing a poem, letter or song, planting a flower, tree, etc. – being able to share a story in any way – are all ways to Honor Miscarriage Through Ritual.

4. Be of Service

Make time to be helpful with the day to day stuff. Grief, emotions, and the physical work her body is doing are all exhausting. Combined they may cause temporary loss of interest in the day to day things that need to get done like cooking, cleaning, chores, errands, child care or pet care, etc. Help out in any way you can around the house!

5. Be Patient

Know that the grieving process cannot be rushed. The process of recovering physically may not be quick. Know it’s okay to not have any idea of what it’s like to have a miscarriage and, if you actually do, that no two experiences are the same. You know your friend and loved one the best. Be there and do for her (and her partner) that which will be most meaningful, even if this means not doing anything at all. A listening ear and shoulder to cry on may be the very best way to offer support.

Closing Thoughts

I am reminded of something I read once from a woman who experienced multiple miscarriages… “I keep searching for the right word to describe it, but come up short. It’s like when you hear about a word in another language that there is no equivalent for in English. Like we are missing the word for what it feels like to go through this.”

While there may not be one word, there are a variety of ways to be supportive and encouraging when helping a woman come to peace with moving forward after pregnancy loss.

Additional resources for miscarriage recovery:

After Miscarriage: 5 Steps To Recovery
Pregnancy and Fertility After a Miscarriage
5 Steps To Decreasing the Chance of Recurrent Miscarriages

References

  • Barton-Schuster, D. (n.d.). How to Honor Miscarriage Through Ritual. Retrieved from: http://natural-fertility-info.com/miscarriage-ritual.html
  • Miscarriage: Supporting Friends & Family Through Loss. (2012, April 25). Retrieved from: http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-loss/supporting-others/
  • Rodriguez, H. (n.d.). Pregnancy and Fertility After a Miscarriage. Retrieved from: http://natural-fertility-info.com/after-a-miscarriage.html

« Previous Post
Natural Ways to Support Your Body Through an IVF Cycle
Next Post »
Fertility Diet Tip - How Eating Healthy Can Be Affordable

About the Author

Elizabeth Willett - M.A., Certified Herbalist

Elizabeth Willett - M.A., Certified Herbalist

Elizabeth Willett is the Senior Herbalist and Lead Educator at NaturalFertilityInfo.com. She holds a BS in Mass Communications (2000) from Minnesota State University, and a Master of Arts degree (MA, 2010) in Holistic Health Studies with a specialization is herbalism from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. Liz has written over 200 articles on women's fertility and brings a vast wealth of knowledge and expertise in holistic health and healing to Natural Fertility Info.com

5 Steps To Improve Your Fertility Naturally

  • Learn the 5 different areas to focus on for optimal fertility health
  • Learn how to support hormonal health with herbs and essential oils
  • Tips on transitioning to a whole food fertility diet.
  • Self-care therapies to support your reproductive health

@NaturalFertilityInfo

naturalfertilityinfo

View

May 17

Open
Can added sugars in our diets affect hormonal health and fertility? Here are the details and the effects sugary foods can have on hormonal and reproductive health... 
​
​What's your biggest hurdle when it comes to sugar?

naturalfertilityinfo

View

May 12

Open
Diana’s story is one of true heartbreak after years of struggle, but with a glorious golden light at the end of the tunnel. Here is her truly inspiring fertility journey…
​
​​​​​
​**While testimonials are real life experiences of those who have used our products, results do vary. We do not claim that they are typical results that consumers will generally achieve. The testimonials are not necessarily representative of all of those who will use our products and/or services.

naturalfertilityinfo

View

May 6

Open
Q: I am on birth control, can I start supporting my hormonal health with herbs and supplements or do I need to be off of birth control to start?
​
​Swipe through the slides to see what our answer is...

naturalfertilityinfo

View

May 4

Open
Have you been waiting to begin making healthy lifestyle changes to support your fertility health? Do you feel overwhelmed about where to begin?
​
​What has been holding you back?

naturalfertilityinfo

View

May 2

Open
Girls, we all have one. Here are some ways to encourage health and balance, naturally...
​
​For the full guide, click the link in our Bio.
​

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Apr 27

Open
Jennifer experienced multiple miscarriages before finding our website. She became inspired by our success stories and was determined to become one too! Read more about her journey... 
​
​
​​​​**While testimonials are real life experiences of those who have used our products, results do vary. We do not claim that they are typical results that consumers will generally achieve. The testimonials are not necessarily representative of all of those who will use our products and/or services.

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Apr 25

Open
Q: When should someone consider having testing done?
​
​Swipe through the slides to see what our answer is...

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Apr 21

Open
To make an impact on your health, you will need to first learn the actions and steps to take... then you will need to be consistent with those actions. It is the consistency that brings you the results. You are going to be human and not be perfect 100% of the time. Just accept that and get back to it. Consistency, day in and out, is more important than being perfect. You can't be 100% perfect for long, but you can be consistent every day.

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Apr 19

Open
If you’ve undergone many consecutive fertility treatments without a successful pregnancy, it could be time for a break. Taking a break gives your body a chance to cleanse, reset and recover. Relief from the side effects and stress could be exactly what you need for a fresh start for your fertility journey.

Use the time to work on yourself- mind and body. A break might even give you the opportunity to find a new sense of peace or a new version of your fertility program.
​
Learn more about natural therapies you can use to help your body reset after medical fertility treatments...

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Apr 13

Open
After 6 unsuccessful IUIs and one IVF of the same result, Angela takes a break and discovers the Natural Fertility Company. Using our resources to help her implement some changes, she has a much different result on her next IVF at 43. Click through the slides to read her story...

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Apr 11

Open
Q: My partner smokes, will this affect his fertility?
​
​Swipe through the slides to see what our answer is...

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Apr 6

Open
I have KMF imprinted on many of my personal belongings as a constant reminder to Keep Moving Forward. This started to be my mantra about 20 years ago when I was in a tough patch and knew the only way was through, and step by step. Keep moving forward. What is the next step, shuffle or even pause that may need to happen? Whatever it is, move towards it, into it, and forward.

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Apr 4

Open
With so many chemicals and outside factors contributing to estrogen dominance in the body, it is good to help support hormonal balance and one way to do that is through foods.
​
​Here are some tips, including foods that help to promote the body's natural ability to get rid of excess estrogens. ..
​
​Are you getting any of these foods in your weekly diet?

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Apr 1

Open
Trish conceives her second child with natural therapies at 37. Swipe through to read her story... 
​
​​​**While testimonials are real life experiences of those who have used our products, results do vary. We do not claim that they are typical results that consumers will generally achieve. The testimonials are not necessarily representative of all of those who will use our products and/or services.

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Mar 30

Open
Q: I have heavy periods, should I be concerned about using tampons?
​
​Swipe through the slides to see what our answer is...

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Mar 28

Open
I knew what my life's calling was at a very young age. At around 16, I had a dream where a dreadlocked rasta man came to me (Burning Spears to be exact) and in that dream was told that I was to be a healer. It was the type of dream that was more real than reality. The next day I woke up feeling different than I had ever felt before. Later on that day, we had new neighbors move into the house above us and a woman came and introduced herself. When I opened the door, she said her name and told me she was opening up a school of healing and that I was to be one of her students. It was one of the most intense series of events in my life. I went on to go to her school and my path started with an amazing community and so much support. What are one of the most life changing experiences you have had? I would love to hear...

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Mar 24

Open
Stress can be one of the primary factors behind infertility. Believe it or not, our bodies are equipped to prevent conception from occurring during times of extreme stress. The presence of adrenaline, the hormone that is released by our bodies during stressful times, signals to our body that conditions are not ideal for conception. Adrenaline inhibits us from utilizing the hormone progesterone, which is essential for fertility. It also causes the pituitary gland to release higher levels of prolactin, which also causes infertility to occur.
​
​Swipe left for ways to reduce the effect of stress on your fertility...

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Mar 21

Open
At 39, Milissa focuses on natural ways to prevent another miscarriage & goes on to conceive. Swipe through the slides to read more about her journey... 
​
​
​**​​While testimonials are real life experiences of those who have used our products, results do vary. We do not claim that they are typical results that consumers will generally achieve. The testimonials are not necessarily representative of all of those who will use our products and/or services.

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Mar 17

Open
​We come into contact with xenohormones on a daily basis. Once you know where and what they are, you can avoid them or not use products that contain them. There has been extensive research on the connection between xenohormones and hormone disruption, which leads us to fertility issues and imbalances. Swipe through the slides to see what our answer is...
​
​If you would like support in getting started with your Ditch and Switch, download my free guide on how to get started. The link is in our Bio.

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Mar 14

Open
You are strong enough. Life can get hard sometimes, but we are stronger through it all. You can figure this out. You know your body. Trust yourself. You are worthy of health, you are worthy of motherhood. You are worthy of having your own opinion. Listen to your gut. You've got this.
Load More...

Footer

  • Programs
  • Upcoming Classes

  • Consultations
  • Contact Us