Our Invisible Loss
I scheduled my appointment with my OB-GYN first thing in the morning so that I would be on time to work. By 9:00am, I had learned that I had an early pregnancy loss and found myself crying in the streets of Manhattan, absolutely devastated. Feeling completely shocked by such sudden news, I didn't know what to do next—so, I attempted to go about my day. I went into auto-pilot mode where my immediate attention and energy was redirected to my job, doing the mental math to figure out if I had enough sick or vacation days to take off and head straight to my bed.
That was my first invisible loss.
Through navigating more unexpected and painful losses since then—and the silence and stigma that accompanies the grief—I learned that no amount of self-care or self-love could get me through them.
I've made an unwavering commitment to improve access to compassionate and informative emotional and mental health support. Our 24/7 on-demand loss support where you are connected to an advocate in 90 seconds or less is what I wished I had for myself. Care literacy—the competency and knowledge around how to offer support—is what we've created to specifically guide you, loved ones and your employers.
I am hopeful for a more compassionate world where we can show up for every person who needs it.
–SIMMONE TAITT, FOUNDER & CEO OF POPPY SEED HEALTH
Our Invisible Loss Stories
Meet Janell, Jill and Ben.
Janell's Early Pregnancy Loss
Janell’s pregnancy loss happened in her first trimester. 80% of pregnancy losses happen during this time. She talks about how she "wishes people hadn’t withheld happy news" and that "at least you can still get pregnant" is not helpful to hear.
Jill and Ben's Infant Loss
This is Jill and Ben’s story of infant loss at 24 weeks. They share their moment-to-moment accounts, as well as what did and did not help from first responders to their employers.
Partner Support
"Other people have it worse." This sort of comparing traumatic experiences can block healing for many people especially partners who did not physically experience a loss—yet more than 60% of partners feel the same level of grief, sadness and anxiety when there is a pregnancy loss. Hear Ben’s infant loss experience.
1 in 4 women will experience a pregnancy loss during their reproductive years
Nearly 68% of birthing people become pregnant after suffering a loss but subsequent pregnancies is not a protective factor to the anxiety and depression felt in their prior loss
Black women are twice as likely to have a stillbirth compared to Hispanic and white women
Nearly 29% of people who experience loss have PTSD and 24% experience anxiety
Our Invisible Loss Care Guides
Created by our advocates trained in loss care, our guides are here to help you, your loved ones and employers navigate the nuances of support that often go unspoken.
I had a loss.
Every person experiences a loss of a child differently. While miscarriage, pregnancy loss, infant loss and child loss have their own distinct “technical” definitions, the one common truth is that loss...is loss. And the only people who truly understand this kind of grief and loss are those who have been through it.
Someone close to me had a loss.
I am not a statistic—I am a parent.
Statistics like ‘one in four’ birthing people will experience a miscarriage will never put adequate meaning to the real human experience of grief and loss. Suddenly everything is different while the world around you seemingly keeps going. Here is an affirmation worth remembering (and even repeating) that might resonate with you. Take from it what feels right to you or write your own.“I will try to love this mind, this body, this uterus, this loss...even though it’s hard to be kind to myself through this. To choose resilience some days and rest the others. To honor my baby, my hopes, my dreams, and the could-have-beens— because as invisible these feelings are to some, my loss is real and invisible no more. I commit to doing what is best for my healing, including asking for care and support, when needed. I am not alone in my mourning and grief. I am loved and my baby is loved too.”
Our 24/7 Pregnancy Loss and Grief Hotline
Advocates are standing by to help you navigate the difficult emotional and physical recovery of a loss. We hold space for you here and can chat now. You are not alone.
You do not have to be a member to access the hotline for free.