Today, I Give Myself Permission To...

Breathe. Heal. Laugh. Cry. Scream. Be Present. Be Absent.

A Post-Pregnancy Loss To Do List:

• Attend your final doctor’s appointment

• Confirm there is no fetal tissue remaining

• Get a D&C, or take another round of Cytotec to remove anything remaining

• Get frequent blood draws to ensure your hCG levels are going down

• Find a therapist who specializes in pregnancy loss

• Find a support group

• Cry, scream, punch a pillow

• Try to stay in touch with friends and family, but stay in bed all day

• Smile politely at co-workers who say, “at least you were early in your pregnancy,” and return to your office to cry

• Ruminate if you will ever bring a living, breathing baby into this world

• Immediately start planning your next pregnancy because your doctor says you are physically ready.

Whew. I wish someone told me about this list before I had my first pregnancy loss. I wish I had known how invasive, intrusive, heartbreaking, and exhausting a pregnancy loss would be.