If you’ve ever felt unsure what to say to someone who’s experienced a miscarriage, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common but least talked-about experiences in pregnancy, and for too long, that silence has left families grieving without the support they need.
The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has launched Miscarriage Matters, a new national education and awareness program designed to help people better understand and support those experiencing early pregnancy loss.
According to Miscarriage Australia, an estimated 1 in 4 confirmed pregnancies end in miscarriage. Based on this rate and the number of births each year, around 285 Australian families are affected every day.
Practical ways to show support
The program includes a range of resources aimed at breaking common misconceptions and providing practical information on how we can support someone going through pregnancy loss. Suggestions include:
- Helping with household chores
- Dropping off a meal or flowers
- Simply being available to listen
Research conducted for the program found that people grieve and experience miscarriage in many different ways, with cultural expectations, misconceptions, and religious and moral beliefs all influencing individual experiences. Loneliness was a common thread among everyone who shared their story.
Breaking the taboo
Program ambassador Jana Pittman, a three-time Olympian and women’s health doctor, says that while miscarriage is a sensitive topic to navigate, staying silent only continues the stigma.
“As a woman who has had four miscarriages, but also now a doctor who works with women, the conversations that women, partners and families have during early pregnancy loss are genuinely difficult,” says Pittman. “This education and awareness program is an opportunity for us to break taboos and equip ourselves to lead a genuinely compassionate conversation centred around care.”
The program has been welcomed by The Pink Elephants Support Network, a leading miscarriage advocacy group whose mission is to provide connection for those experiencing miscarriage and early pregnancy loss.
“For too long, the silence surrounding early pregnancy loss has left families to grieve in the shadows,” says Sam Payne, Co-Founder and CEO. “At Pink Elephants, we know that while the grief of miscarriage is deeply personal, the loneliness doesn’t have to be. These Miscarriage Matters resources are a vital step forward in giving Australians the tools and the confidence to show up for their loved ones.”
Where to find the resources
If you or someone you care about has had a miscarriage, support is available. You are not alone.
Download the resources:
health.gov.au/miscarriage-matters
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