I don’t have good news. I have uttered this phrase more times than I care to count over my career. Many people would be surprised by this as I am an OB/GYN and everyone tends to think this is a very happy job. I do have the privilege of being with people as they bring their babies into the world which is one of the happiest and most memorable experiences to share with someone. However, I practice obstetrics in one of the most populated cities in the world, a city where many women and couples are deciding to delay child bearing until later in life. Because of the nature and demographics of my patient population, I see a higher than average number of miscarriages and almost weekly have to relay the heartbreaking news to someone who was excited and ready for a baby that they have had a miscarriage. This never gets easier and often the first time I am meeting a patient is when I have to tell them that they have had a loss. I walk into the room, introduce myself, and as gently as possible tell them they have lost someone they never met but whom they already love and are waiting to share their lives with. I want to share a few insights from my experience and conversations with patients and friends in the hopes of helping those who have a loss to feel less alone and those who have yet to start their pregnancy journey to better understand miscarriages.
Let’s talk about Miscarriage
Let’s talk about Miscarriage
Let’s talk about Miscarriage
I don’t have good news. I have uttered this phrase more times than I care to count over my career. Many people would be surprised by this as I am an OB/GYN and everyone tends to think this is a very happy job. I do have the privilege of being with people as they bring their babies into the world which is one of the happiest and most memorable experiences to share with someone. However, I practice obstetrics in one of the most populated cities in the world, a city where many women and couples are deciding to delay child bearing until later in life. Because of the nature and demographics of my patient population, I see a higher than average number of miscarriages and almost weekly have to relay the heartbreaking news to someone who was excited and ready for a baby that they have had a miscarriage. This never gets easier and often the first time I am meeting a patient is when I have to tell them that they have had a loss. I walk into the room, introduce myself, and as gently as possible tell them they have lost someone they never met but whom they already love and are waiting to share their lives with. I want to share a few insights from my experience and conversations with patients and friends in the hopes of helping those who have a loss to feel less alone and those who have yet to start their pregnancy journey to better understand miscarriages.