Jo’s story

20 Sep Jo’s story

Between 2010 to 2018, I ‘lost’ 15 babies.

We worked with fantastic medical professionals over the years but no-one could ever find out why we were losing each pregnancy. It was the not knowing that was one of the most difficult aspects of the losses, as I went into every pregnancy with crippling anxiety that things would go wrong. Each pregnancy, I set little milestones to try and focus on the immediate and not fixate on how unlikely it was that I would make it to full term, like if I can make it to six weeks…, if I can see a heartbeat on the scan…, if I haven’t bled by seven weeks…, if I can make it to 12 weeks etc. Reading stories from other people who were going through similar losses helped me to feel a little less alone, which is why I want to share my story. Eventually, we now have two beautiful rainbow babies and will feel eternally grateful, but the grief and heartbreak of those 15 losses have fundamentally changed me forever.

There are many organisations that offer support to anyone affected by pregnancy and baby loss.

Tommy’s is the largest UK pregnancy and baby loss charity, funding research into stillbirth, premature birth and miscarriage. Dedicated to finding causes and treatments to save babies’ lives as well as providing trusted pregnancy and baby loss information and support. For more information and support visit tommys.org

The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust focuses on early pregnancy loss through ectopic pregnancy. It is the only charity focusing on ectopic pregnancy in providing such extensive general information and peer support for anyone experiencing the condition. For more information and support visit www.ectopic.org.uk.