Baby loss charities praise Meghan Markle for opening up about her miscarriage

Duchess suffered a miscarriage in July

(Getty Images)

The Duchess of Sussex has been praised by baby loss charities for revealing she had a miscarriage in the summer.

On Wednesday, The New York Times published an essay by Meghan in which she recalled feeling a “sharp cramp” one morning in July while changing the nappy of her son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor.

“I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right,” the Duchess wrote.

“I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.”

The essay was widely shared on social media, with many thanking Meghan for her candour and for raising awareness for baby loss and the stigma that surrounds it.

Baby loss charity Tommy’s, tweeted: “Thank you Meghan, for #breakingthesilence”.

Meanwhile, Sands UK, the stillbirth & neonatal death charity, tweeted Meghan’s article alongside the caption: “We want everyone affected by #babyloss to know you are not alone”.

The charity’s chief executive, Clea Harmer, also published a statement in response to the essay.

“Meghan sums up the pain of pregnancy and baby loss perfectly when she says ‘Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few’," it reads. 

“The sad reality is that stigma surrounding pregnancy loss and baby death leaves many parents feeling isolated, so it helps enormously when someone in the public eye speaks out as it lets everyone affected know they are not alone.”

The baby loss counselling charity, Petals, described Meghan’s essay as “powerful and important".

“The Duchess of Sussex has spoken bravely today about the miscarriage she experienced earlier this year,” the organisation tweeted.

“As a counselling charity that supports couples after pregnancy and baby loss we are passionate about the importance of talking openly & of being heard after such a tragic loss.”

Karen Burgess, CEO of Petals, explained the significance of Meghan’s essay to Heart News East: “It's only through high profile people like the duchess finding the courage to talk about this that we can really open up this conversation,” she said.

"It really does take us forward in leaps and bounds when somebody in her position is able to talk to frankly and we are deeply deeply grateful for that."

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands on 0808 164 3332 or email helpline@sands.org.uk. 

 

To contact Petals to enquire about the charity’s counselling services, you can call 0300 688 0068 or email counselling@petalscharity.org.