Miscarriage hurts. But you are not alone.


1 in 4 Pregnancies end in miscarriage. Men, women, family members and friends are affected by that loss. Although miscarriage has affected many of us - we rarely talk about our experiences. At Voice for Life, we want to change that. Your loss matters. Your experience matters. And healing is possible. There is hope after loss. Keep reading to find out more.

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Where to Find Help

Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

Real Miscarriage Stories

Share Your Story

When the nurse said, “I can’t find a heartbeat,” I thought - keep looking. You’ll find it. I feel it. Then the doctor said, “You’ve lost the baby.” And I thought, this cannot be happening. But it happened. And it hurt. A lot. It still does.
— Sara

Where can I find miscarriage help?

A miscarriage, either your own or that of a loved one, can be a very painful experience, leading to intense emotions and grief. It may also be confusing, as this loss can be quite sudden and leave those involved wondering what happened or what to do. For those looking for help, there are a number of miscarriage resources available to answer questions, offer support, and help in the healing process. Not all resources are a fit for every situation. We have gathered a few different resources that can serve as a place to start.

While some of the resources listed below are not available in the Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language, many web browsers (like Google Chrome) include a “translate” option which can be utilized.

Voice for Life, its creators, and all those involved are not responsible for the content of the individual resources listed for referral, nor does providing a link constitute an endorsement of a resource.

General Information about Miscarriage

“Hope After Loss” Booklet

Many men and women are seeking to make sense of their own or a loved one's miscarriage. This booklet is for those who have been touched by miscarriage - recently or years ago - to reflect on what has happened and to assist in their grief journey. Know that you are not alone. Request your FREE copy here.

Help with Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

Miscarriage and other pregnancy loss can produce strong emotions that may change over time. Denying, repressing, or pushing down these emotions may work for a while, but continued refusal to face these emotions can lead to unhealthy behaviors. Below are resources designed to help with specific unhealthy coping mechanisms that may develop.

Voice for life is not a medical or mental health provider. If you or someone you know is facing an emergency, please dial your local emergency services (in BiH, 124 for the ambulance and 122 for the police). 

 

Please remember, there is no shame in asking for help. Grief can be messy and complicated. You are not alone.

Here is a list of the Contact Phone Numbers for Psychological support at Dom Zdravlje in BiH.

Online Peer Support Groups

Coming soon

Information for Partners

  • Miscarriage Support Auckland provides comprehensive info surrounding all aspects of miscarriage. This section offers practical advice for men who are dealing with a miscarriage. https://www.miscarriagesupport.org.nz/men/

Real Stories

Some people find that reading the stories of others is a powerful way to find camaraderie and healing. The following stories are real, and because of that, may at times include details that could be triggering or distressing. Names, if included, have been changed for privacy.

Some days you never forget. I was with my daughter. She was 12 weeks pregnant. The doctor said she miscarried and then they said it would be okay. She could try again. But she wasn’t okay. Neither was I...It is hard to watch your child suffer. To not know what to do or say. You just do the best you can.
— Marija
My wife found out she was pregnant in October of last year. We’d been trying for a few months and were extremely excited... Not knowing any better, I didn’t take off work to go to the appointment with her. It was around 4pm when she called me crying... I felt like I had to be strong for her. Telling our family was one of the hardest parts of it. One good thing that came out from having told our family about the pregnancy was that when we told them about the miscarriage we discovered that miscarriages like this aren’t uncommon... It still hurts, I don’t think we’ll ever totally get over the experience, but the pain from it has dulled over time.
— Anonymous, via miscarraigehurts.com
My miscarriage occurred over thirty years ago. I still think about it every day. She would have been born in April 1988. I wonder about who she would have been.
— Anonymous, via miscarriagehurts.com
Your second miscarriage. They don’t talk about it. And when they do, they tell you “it’s common” and “it’s not your fault.” The bleeding and the cramps eventually end, though, and they’ll say “you can try again.” But the anxiety of what trying again means kicks in... It means that every single possible symptom is over analyzed, because for whatever reason, the same symptoms could mean either normal PMS or pregnancy. It also means that each month when the blood begins to flow once more, you’re one month further away from being a mother.
— Anonymous, via miscarriagehurts.com

Want to share your story?

Telling your miscarriage story will help you to start or to continue grieving the loss of your child or the child of someone close to you. It may be difficult or even painful to tell your story. Keep in mind that you might need to make several attempts to start or finish it.

This space is for you. Stories submitted may be shared ANONYMOUSLY on our website. If you would rather keep your story private, indicate this by writing “DO NOT SHARE” in the story. We do not have the ability to respond since submissions are anonymous. Please indicate your email in the story if you would like us to communicate with you. Email addresses will not be shared.

 

Miscarriage hurts. But there is hope after loss.