CLARE FOGES: Whenever a woman in the public eye announces that she has lost a baby in pregnancy there is always an outpouring of sympathy.
This week, UK writer Clare Foges shares her praise for Rebecca Adlington. READ MORE:As babies grow under your heart they grow into it, too. The news that Olympian Rebecca Adlington lost her baby at 20 weeks is desperately sad. Five months is a long time when you're pregnant; time enough to envisage the future, to plan, to involve others in the excitement.
In this case, Adlington made it clear that she is letting people know because she had already announced the pregnancy. But even if she hadn't, what's wrong with women making the news of their loss public? Why should we feel the need to throw a hush-hush blanket over such things? Though many women have spoken out in recent years about pregnancy loss — from Myleene Klass to the Duchess of Sussex — there persists the view that some things shouldn't be spoken about.
When I discovered I was pregnant with my fourth child last spring, I told family and friends almost immediately. A couple of weeks later I was driving to a private scan clinic, singing along to the radio, excited to see that little six-week-old dot on the sonographer's screen. Within ten seconds I knew something was wrong. The sonographer squinted at the screen. 'Could you have got your dates wrong?' she asked gently. The foetus was measuring a week too small. No heartbeat.
Since that time — and particularly in the last few years — many women have told their stories and helped other women feel a little less alone. That's one clear benefit of sharing. Another is to keep breaking down the taboos and secrecy around women's bodies, which lead to legitimate health concerns being minimised or swept under the carpet.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
CLARE FOGES: Rebecca is right to share the grief of miscarriage. Something so common must NOT be...CLARE FOGES: Whenever a woman in the public eye announces that she has lost a baby in pregnancy there is always an outpouring of sympathy.
Read more »
Like Rebecca Adlington, I had a late miscarriage'Look, I want babies and I'm going to do everything in my power to get them. So, here I go, I'm going down the IVF path.'
Read more »
Victoria and David Beckham make first public appearance after Rebecca Loos spoke out about 'affair':...David and Victoria Beckham put on an united front in their first public appearance since Rebecca Loos spoke out about her alleged affair with the footballer.
Read more »
Victoria Beckham sits on David's lap in cosy snap after Rebecca Loos claimsDavid and Victoria Beckham have shown that they remain a united front as they joined their son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz and some pals for a swanky dinner in Miami
Read more »
Rutherglen MSP teams up with Marie Curie to tackle end of live povertyClare Haughey met with representatives from charity Marie Curie to help find a solution.
Read more »
Victoria Beckham 'petrified' Rebecca Loos will unleash bombshellFollowing the success of the Beckhams' Netflix documentary, Victoria Beckham is said to be 'petrified' that Rebecca Loos will unleash a bombshell over her alleged affair with David
Read more »