Appy · 2 min
Miscarriage and pregnancy loss
5 sections · 2 min read
Content note
This article discusses pregnancy loss, including miscarriage and recurrent loss. Some readers may find this difficult. You can read it now, return to it later, or choose something else.
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How common is miscarriage, really?
Miscarriage is far more common than most people realise. Approximately 1 in 4 recognised pregnancies ends in miscarriage, with the vast majority occurring in the first 12 weeks. For women who have been , this loss can be devastating, made worse by the silence that surrounds it.
In South Asian communities, miscarriage is often hidden entirely. The cultural expectation to not announce a pregnancy until later, combined with the stigma around reproductive loss, means many women grieve alone, without support from family or community.
What causes miscarriage?
The most common cause of early miscarriage is chromosomal abnormality, a random error in cell division that prevents the embryo from developing normally. This is not caused by anything the mother did or didn't do.
Miscarriage is NOT caused by: • Stress or worry • Working too hard • Exercise • Eating the wrong foods • Having an argument • Not resting enough • Past behaviour or sins • Nazar (evil eye) or spiritual causes
If someone tells you, or implies, that your miscarriage was caused by your behaviour, your faith, or your karma, they are wrong. Miscarriage is a medical event with biological causes.
What counts as recurrent miscarriage and what happens next?
Recurrent miscarriage is defined as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses. This affects approximately 1% of couples . If you have experienced recurrent miscarriage, your doctor should refer you for specialist investigation.
Investigations may include blood clotting tests (antiphospholipid syndrome), hormonal tests, uterine structure assessment, and genetic testing for both partners. In many cases, a cause can be identified and treated.
What is the emotional impact of miscarriage and pregnancy loss?
Grief after miscarriage is real and valid, regardless of how early the loss occurred. You may feel sadness, anger, guilt, emptiness, jealousy of others' pregnancies, or numbness. All of these are normal responses.
In South Asian families, there may be pressure to "move on" quickly, to try again immediately, or to treat the loss as something that simply wasn't meant to be. While these responses come from a cultural framework of coping, they can feel dismissive of your pain.
You are allowed to grieve. You are allowed to take time. You are allowed to talk about it, or not talk about it, on your own terms.
Where can you find support after a miscarriage or pregnancy loss?
How did this land with you?
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Reviewed by clinicians
Authored and reviewed by clinicians from the founding team. Information only, not personalised medical advice.