The Author of this post would like to remain anonymous.
I want you to know that you are the definition of brave. Today you are in my thoughts and I’m praying for you.
This morning, I woke up with tears in my eyes… because it has been eight years since it happened.
Eight years since I secretly endured pain and eight years since I lost my unborn child.
It was my first pregnancy but an unplanned one. When I found out I was expecting, instead of celebrating I sat on the toilet pan holding a positive test crying, because I desperately wanted it to be negative. Why? Because I was scared of judgement. I was a teenager, unmarried and dating a man (who, I might add is now my husband). What would the world say? What would my parents say?
I only realized the bond of motherhood when I sat on that same toilet pan weeks later but this time enduring pain. Pain like I had never experienced before.
Even though I wasn’t a mother yet, I still had a connection with my growing baby. I wanted to protect that precious angel but I couldn’t. I failed, or rather that was how I felt. I wanted to cry…
Sometimes we think that it’s best to keep a miscarriage a secret but honestly it isn’t. Years have passed and I still think about my baby – even though I accepted that what had happened, happened for a reason. I wish that I had said something earlier… But I was too scared.
Today, I want you to know that I felt your pain too. The pain of losing a child before even having one. The pain of having a miscarriage but not knowing what is happening to your body. The pain of feeling helpless and weak.
I remember that day like it was yesterday… I was alone and scared. No one knew what was going on.
I locked myself in the bathroom and screamed silently. The pain was unbearable. What was happening to me? This can’t be normal! Why am I bleeding? My partner wasn’t even in the country, how would I tell him? What could he do from there?
I sat on that toilet pan and crouched my body hoping it will stop the pain but it only got worse. At that moment, I realized this was goodbye. Goodbye to my unborn baby and goodbye to the pregnancy that I had just accepted. Was this a test from God? Because for me – it was a night of torture! Was this happening because I did not plan this pregnancy?
It doesn’t matter if it was planned or not, a miscarriage will still tear you a part emotionally.
I grieved secretly while I pretended everything was okay. I cried inside while I smiled in front of others. There were moments where I sat and thought about what my precious angel would have looked like. I blamed myself for months. I hated my body for giving me something so precious but then snatching it away in seconds.
I wished I had done more but the truth is I can’t change what was meant to happen. There’s always a reason behind a miscarriage.
Your heart may be shattered today but one day it will be glued back together I promise.
Today I’m blessed with 3 gorgeous kids that helped me through my moments of grief. You will also find a reason to smile again. I know that right now it may not seem like it, right now you want to explore every what if, what could I have done, what… why? I just want you to know that this is not because of you, not because of something that you had done. The power of life and death is not in your hands. Only God knows the answers to your questions – just know that you are not at fault….
It is okay to think about your unborn baby and it is okay to cry. There will be moments of weakness but don’t let it control you. Rise up and dust off negativity. I know it’s hard to let go but forgive yourself and accept what has happened so that the joy can return in your life like it did in mine.
Remember you are a strong woman. You have to make the choice. You need to know that you have to find a reason to go on, someone needs you. Be the person that you were meant to be and let this setback set the stage for your comeback.
October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
Hi, I’m Shan. I’m a wife, mom to 3 kids and a businesswoman who works from home and gets very little sleep at night. My days are filled with dirty diapers and toddler tantrums, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. I am in the Forbes 30 under 30 list for Forbes Africa 2019 and just recently launched my start-up – MomSays.
Beautiful post. Went thru this myself and up to now have not spoken about the hurt that you as a mother endure.
Thank you Bilqees for commenting. I’m glad you did, it’s actually good to speak about it. You not alone. <3 Sending you lots of hugs.
Miscarriages are a loss, whether it’s the first trimester or the last. As a mom, I bonded with my kids almost from the time my test strip came back positive. It’s a grief like no other, and it’s sad that so many women feel like they have to endure that alone.
This is a BEAUTIFUL post. Relevant for everyone in my opinion. Not everyone goes through this same situation but this beautiful post definitely makes the whole situation easier to relate to! Wonderfully written, beautiful.
It made me cry. 🙁
We had a miscarriage a few years ago and it hurt so bad. I did share it with people so that I wouldn’t feel alone. Sharing take guts, but it help you hear. Thank you for sharing your story!
I would have had a 14 year old had I not miscarried so many years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday and I still think about that baby I delivered. It always feels a little better when we connect with people who have been through it.
What a beautiful post. I’m at a loss for words.
This brought tears to my eyes and I think you are very brave, and strong to be able to go through what you went through and share your story with us. Thank you very much for sharing.
I’ve had 7 confirmed miscarraiges over the course of 7 years, it was the darkest moments of my life and while I have gone one to become a mother, it’s a time in my life that still causes tremendous pain and heartache. I think the biggest thing about miscarriages is that it’s extremely lonely time.
I have lost a little one recently too, and it is not easy. The scary thing is how many people go through it and think that they are completely alone. My heart broke when I lost, but I have got a beautiful 3 year old and she has helped me start to pick up the pieces and carry on. Every day is different, some are good, others are terrible – but each day, as time goes by – I look back on that day and think, that wasnt too bad, maybe tomorrow will be better.