If you’ve experienced a miscarriage or early pregnancy loss, you are not alone—and you are not wrong for still feeling the weight of it, even weeks, months, or years later.
A major review of research confirms what so many parents have quietly carried: early pregnancy loss can cause deep psychological pain. In fact, up to 4 in 10 women experience clinical levels of anxiety or depression after a miscarriage, and some go on to develop symptoms of PTSD. Partners, too, may struggle—just in different, often more silent, ways.
What this means is simple and profound: your grief is real.
It’s not “just a bad period.” It’s not something everyone “gets over.” It’s a life-changing event for many families, whether the pregnancy was planned or not, long-awaited or unexpected. And sadly, many people go through it without the emotional support they need.
Researchers found that the risk for psychological distress is highest when people lack support or feel isolated, when they’ve had past losses, or when they’ve struggled with fertility or mental health before. Being single, or feeling unsupported by a partner, can make it even harder.
That’s why it’s so important to be gentle—with ourselves, with our partners, and with others who may be walking this path in silence.
At Mamapedia, we want to remind you that you don’t have to “bounce back” from something that broke your heart. If you’re struggling, please reach out—whether it’s to a friend, a therapist, or your doctor. There is no shame in needing support. In fact, it’s human.
Let’s keep talking about this. Let’s make space for grief. And let’s remind each other that healing looks different for everyone—but it starts with being seen.