How to Tell Your Kids About a Miscarriage

When the devastation of miscarriage occurs, sharing the news with others will be one of the unpleasant tasks before you. If you have older children, they will likely figure out what something has happened, even before you inform them. Telling your kids that you suffered a miscarriage may be difficult, but your family can draw closer as you work through the loss of your baby.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Sit with your children in a comfortable place without distractions to enable you to discuss the situation. If possible, both parents should be present for this conversation. Choose a time when you can take as much time as necessary to comfort and support your children and be together as a family.
   • 2
     Tell your kids that the tiny baby that was growing inside of you died. By using simple and direct language, your children should understand the sad message. Avoid using figures of speech such as “lost the baby” because your children may misunderstand, cautions the Miscarriage Support Auckland website. Avoid telling your children that baby went to sleep because you might frighten them.

     • 3
       Invite questions if your kids are old enough to want more details, advises the American Pregnancy Association. Provide honest answers with as much information as you have. It’s okay to tell your kids “I don’t know,” if you can’t answer a question.
     • 4
       Share your faith if your beliefs include a destiny for the unborn baby, suggests the Miscarriage Association. Your beliefs may help your children cope with the loss and grasp hope for the future.
     • 5
       Support your children as they navigate the grief process. The grief will be individual for every child, depending on the youngster’s age and temperament. Sometimes a child’s grief might focus more on worry about his mother’s physical or emotional wellbeing. A child might also begin acting out or showing emotional disturbances such as clinginess or trouble sleeping. Kids may also ask the same questions repeatedly as they struggle to accept the loss. Respond as patiently as possible to help your children through the grief.