So many times the focus is upon the woman who has miscarried, and this is understandable. After all, she was carrying the baby and lives the emotional, physical and spiritual pain miscarriage leaves in its wake. But what of other family members? They have feelings, too, and should not be left out of the picture. They grieve, hurt, question and need to heal.
Some things to consider:
Fathers: The father of a baby lost to miscarriage grieves, too. He also wants to be there to support his wife/partner and be the 'strong one'. However, he had hopes and dreams for his baby, just like the mother, and they were lost when their baby passed away.
Grandparents: Grandparents were expecting a new baby grandchild. They often want to be strong for the mother and father who suffered through miscarriage, but they also suffered a loss.
Siblings: What of the siblings who expected a baby brother or sister to arrive? When children are old enough to understand that Mommy was having a baby, and now the baby is gone, they need support, too. Perhaps a little extra support because, after all, they are children.
Aunts and Uncles: The same applies to those who would have been an Aunt or Uncle to the new baby. Grieving is part of their lives after miscarriage. They had hopes and expectations and were excited about seeing and loving a new niece or nephew. When the baby passed away, their dreams did, too.
To sum it up: Family members are all affected by miscarriage. Yes, it's the mother who suffers the most because she carried the baby. However, ALL those who were excited about the new arrival suffer after miscarriage, and if we recognize this, we can be there for all those affected by losing a baby to miscarriage. We can support everyone who has been touched by a little life never seen, but loved deeply.
