48 NORTH BAY WOMAN | F A L L 2 0 1 9
T
he American College of
Obstetrics and Gynocol-
ogists estimates that 15%
to 20% of pregnancies
end in miscarriage. Most
will occur between 0 and
13 weeks of pregnancy.
About 60% occur randomly, and they are
more common in women with increased
reproductive age.
For most miscarriages, there is not a
cause for the pregnancy loss, and over
60% go on to have healthy pregnancies
after a miscarriage.
The American Pregnancy Association
suggests that the emotional impact usu-
ally takes longer to heal than the physical
recovery does. The APA also stresses the
importance that women are not at fault
when they miscarry, which is usually con-
trary to how they feel. One of the biggest
issues with miscarriage is that it is often
dealt with in a very solitary, angry and
unsupported manner.
But there is hope. The taboo of mis-
carriage is crumbling. Celebrities such as
Pink, Beyonce, Brooke Shields and Sharon
Stone have come forward to discuss their
own miscarriages to show support for
other women.
The following recounts come from local
women wanting to shine a light on this
conversation. They want to let women
Wo m e n s h a re sto r i e s o f m i s c a r r i a g e to co u n te r w h a t i s
o f te n a ve r y s o l i t a r y, a n g r y, u n s u p p o r te d j o u r n ey
By Lori Pearce
Silence
Breaking the
T
