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10 Celeb Moms Who've Opened Up About Miscarriage

Rebecca M Gruber — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:37:00 PST

Jay-Z's instant hit, "Glory," not only celebrated the birth of baby Blue Ivy, it cracked open a window into the lives of two of the hip-hop world's biggest stars. While rapping about his amazement over the birth of his daughter, Jay-Z also revealed that Beyoncé suffered a painful miscarriage before this pregnancy.

While many mamas keep their road to pregnancy private, others are very open about their struggles, in hopes of helping women in similar situations. We've rounded up 10 celeb mamas who've shared details about their struggles with miscarriages on the road to parenthood.

The Duggars Discuss Miscarriage; Is That Comforting?

Heather Maddan — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 07:00:29 PST

Sometimes the great expectations of a pregnancy aren't realized. Though Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar may seem to have found the fountain of fertility as evidenced by their 19 children, the parents lost a pregnancy (years ago) after having their firstborn. Sadly, Josh Duggar and his wife, Anna, also suffered a miscarriage a few months back. In sharing the happy news of their current pregnancy with a second child, the couple shared their experience. One report said:

"I was very sad," Anna says. "Josh was a big encouragement to me. It helped us go through the heartbreak to learn that 30 or 40 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage. That was comforting in some ways."

Does knowing that miscarriage isn't uncommon comfort you as well?

Is It Wrong For Woman to Keep Miscarriage From Husband?

LilSugar — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:00:21 PDT

A miscarriage affects more than the mother. In last night's "With You I'm Born Again" season opener of Grey's Anatomy, the staff of Seattle Grace copes with the physical and emotional effects of the hospital's mass murder. While Derek opts for living hard, Meredith keeps a secret. She has yet to tell her husband that she had a miscarriage or that she was pregnant. Does a woman mourning a miscarriage have the right to keep it to herself or does the would-have-been father deserve to know?
Photo copyright 2010 ABC Inc.

Do You Know Your Facts About Miscarriage?

LilSugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:00:19 PST

From the cycles they complete every month, to their ability to house and nurture a growing baby, our bodies are pretty miraculous. But when they let us down, it is hard to understand their ways. Nobody ever said that miscarriage was a pleasant topic of conversation, but it is important to know the facts.

Take our quiz and see how well you understand this bodily function.

Source

Take the Quiz

Lil Links: Pregnancy After Miscarriage

LilSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:00:25 PDT

Pregnancy after miscarriage - Cool Mom
Matt Damon sees his girls in every child he meets - Celebrity Baby Blog
Kate Beckinsale can't go longer than five weeks without Lily - Celebrity Baby Scoop
PTA Politics - Mommy Trackd
My son sees dead people - The Poop
Todd Palin: feminist icon? - Parent Dish
Fifteen tips for single parents - Woman's Day

Mommy Dearest: How to Cope With Miscarriage?

babysugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:00:34 PDT

Mommy Dearest,

My friend recently suffered a miscarriage and is devastated by the loss. I want to help, but honestly cannot find the words to comfort her. Would sending her flowers be a morbid reminder of recent events? How can I be there for her in this time of despair without overstepping my bounds?

- At a Loss

To see Mommy Dearest's Response,

read more. Dear At a Loss, I am sorry for your friend's loss. Suffering a miscarriage is a terrible event in a woman's (couple's) life. It is a topic close to my heart as both my mother and sister have had multiple miscarriages. In these situations, there's very little you can say or do to make your friend feel better. But words of encouragement serve as a reminder that she is loved and will get through it. Sending flowers and a card also remind the woman that she has a support system. Spill out your heartfelt sympathy and encourage her to reach out to you when she feels the time is right. And until then, let her know she is in your thoughts. - Mommy Dearest Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on TeamSugar. Source

Mommy Alert! Miscarriage and Caffeine

LilSugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:00:34 PST

Contrary to what was reported in this Mommy Alert two weeks ago, a recent New York Times article says there is evidence that caffeine poses a risk to pregnant women. It said:

"The new study, being published Monday in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, finds that pregnant women who consume 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day - the amount in 10 ounces of coffee or 25 ounces of tea - may double their risk of miscarriage."

So if you're expecting, you may want to err on the side of caution and skip the cup of joe.

Source

Coffee Won't Cause Miscarriages

LilSugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:08:06 PST

Have your cup of joe and don't worry about junior. Kate Hudson is one celeb mama who indulges in her cup o' caffeine.

A recent study showed that pregnant women who drink caffeine in moderation are not more at risk for a miscarriage. But since less than two cups of coffee were consumed on a daily basis, it's questionable whether drinking more could have an adverse effect.

Dr. David A. Savitz of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City who conducted the study said past research had similar results. To finish the post,

Babies Don't Always Come Easy

LilSugar — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 06:00:00 PST

Nobody said life was fair and with pregnancy, I find this especially true. I consider myself lucky having gotten pregnant right away with both my kids and all things considered having had easy, uneventful deliveries. I've never experienced the loss that comes with having a miscarriage or the sadness that follows while stowing away items that were enthusiastically purchased for an impending birth.

Since I am a mother, just imagining that void brings me to tears. And, knowing couples that have lost a child or children, some of who seem like they were born to parent makes it all the more devastating.

While statistics vary, most estimate 20 to 25 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage. So many women don't take the possibility or reality of being a mother for granted. A recent New York Times article about freelance writer, Catherine MacRae Hockmuth's struggle with infertility was especially poignant. To finish the story,

Can Natural Family Planning Work For You?

BabyCenter — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:36:14 PST

We're excited to share this post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we will be bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Sabrina Garibia about using natural family planning as a form of birth control.

It’s much, much worse than the secret assemblies we had in middle school about menstruation. At least we were kids and all girls that time.

I’m a sophomore in college, and the old priest who is teaching my theology of marriage class is talking about natural family planning. He uses the words sex, cervical mucus, cervix, and orgasm all in one class.

Mortifying. I turn my head to giggle with my friend about the way we should have learning about our periods in middle school, and my eye accidentally catches the cute senior.

Even more mortifying.

That section of the class stayed with me for years, and when I got married, I knew I wanted to try natural family planning (NFP), first to prevent and later to achieve pregnancy. I read the book in full, and several months into my marriage, my husband and I decided to use NFP (or actually, the fertility awareness method) to prevent pregnancy.

It worked perfectly, but we followed the rules by the book (literally). Just like any other form of birth control, it is only effective when done properly. When we were ready for a baby, we followed those rules and got pregnant fairly easily (after a miscarriage and a bit of chart obsession).

When I’m done nursing, I think we will use natural family planning or the fertility awareness method again. It is natural and effective when done right. My husband and I both believe in it (unlike Jennifer’s husband and probably Jennifer herself).

What about you? Do you think NFP works?

More great stories from BabyCenter.com:
Seven things to consider when buying a high chair
Have you ever forgotten your baby?
Day care is really good for moms
An organized playroom. Seriously?
Should you use glass baby bottles?