he grief and pain that comes with the loss of a baby can have a devastating impact on women, their partners and members of their extended family.
According to a recent study conducted by scientists at Imperial College London and KU Leuven in Belgium, one in six women who lose a baby during pregnancy experiences long-term symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
The research found that one month after pregnancy loss 29 per cent of women suffered from symptoms of PTSD, while almost a quarter (24 per cent) experienced moderate to severe anxiety, and one in nine (11 per cent) had moderate to severe depression.
After nine months, 18 per cent of women still had PTSD, while 17 per cent had moderate to severe anxiety, and six per cent showed signs of moderate to severe depression.
For those grieving the loss of a child, it can often help to know they are not alone and in recent years a number of celebrities have tried to raise awareness by sharing their own personal experiences.
In 2016, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon decided to speak about the pain she suffered at miscarrying a baby in 2011 in the hope of challenging the “assumptions and judgments” made about women who do not have children.
“Sometimes, for whatever reason, having a baby just doesn’t happen – no matter how much we might want it to,” Sturgeon said.
“Judgements and assumptions shouldn’t be made about what are personal choices and experiences.“
20 celebrities who have opened up about baby loss
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Click through the gallery above to read quotes from 20 public figures about their own experiences with baby loss.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands on 0808 164 3332 or email helpline@sands.org.uk. The helpline is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, and until 9.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
