October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, with October 15th marking the day of remembrance. Here in Australia, one in four pregnancies results in a miscarriage. Pregnancy and infant loss are issues which cause a huge amount of distress for those affected, however they are issues which are not commonly discussed, despite affecting 25% of pregnancies.
In Chinese medicine there is a saying: ‘a miscarriage is harder on the body than labour’. This is because there is a huge impact on the Qi and blood, which is amplified by the emotions that can accompany the loss of a pregnancy. In Chinese medicine the emotions and the physical being are intrinsically connected, the health of one will always affect the other.
Grief is one of t
he most common emotions which arises following a miscarriage. There is no time frame or time limit for these feelings. They can arise again and again. If you have suffered a miscarriage, it is important to be gentle with yourself and allow yourself time to heal. Know that certain dates will carry a sadness for you, and you may find it difficult to be around pregnant friends. While people who have not been through this may not understand, it is always useful to share your feelings with those around you to help them understand what you need at this time. Sometimes having a ceremony or writing a letter honouring the pregnancy and the loss of all that might have been can help the healing process.
There may also be anxiety around falling pregnant again and having another miscarriage. In these cases having the support of an experienced Chinese medicine practitioner can be extremely useful. We can support you in preparing and healing your body and support you during pregnancy, ensuring there are no contributing factors which may put you at risk of miscarriage whilst also helping to ease anxiety and emotional distress throughout the process.
Many parents-to-be are told to simply try again, as soon as possible following a miscarriage. In Chinese medicine we believe it is better to take some time and allow the body to recover from the loss. This allows the body to return to the optimal state to support pregnancy. Most women who suffer a miscarriage go on to have happy, healthy babies. If you have suffered a miscarriage and would like some more information about how Chinese medicine and the Fertile Life method can support you please contact the clinic for more information.
Learn more about Pregnancy and Infant Loss month:
http://www.bearsofhope.org.au/a/290.html
Featured image Jess Mahoney’s beautiful maternity celebrating pregnancy after a devastating six miscarriages. Picture by JoAnn Marrerro from Labor To Love Photography –
https://www.facebook.com/fromlabortolove/
Anna McMullen is available for consult Monday and Saturday at Mornington Chinese Medicine. Phone enquiries (03)59736886