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Miscarriage signs and symptoms, as Hilaria Baldwin shares the loss of her baby in real time

Hilaria Baldwin has received praise globally for sharing updates on her miscarriage in real time [Photo: PA]
Hilaria Baldwin has received praise globally for sharing updates on her miscarriage in real time [Photo: PA]

Hilaria Baldwin has been praised online for opening up about the often taboo topic of miscarriage.

Last week the 35-year-old, wellness advocate took to social media to share the news that she was pregnant with her fifth child, but was at risk of losing the baby. Now, the wellness expert has confirmed she has suffered a miscarriage.

Taking to Instagram to share the sad news Hilaria posting a family snapshot of herself and husband Alec Baldwin posing with their four children.

“There was no heartbeat today at my scan,” she wrote in the accompanying caption. “So it’s over. But I have some pretty strong and amazing heartbeats right here. I am surrounded by such love and I feel so fortunate.

READ MORE: Parents who lose a child to be offered official bereavement leave in new proposal

She went on to thank her fans for their support and for sharing their own personal stories of miscarriage.

“We are stronger together. I hope this conversation continues to grow and that we stick together through both the beautiful and challenging moments in life. Much love and appreciation to all of you.”

Just as her previous post prompted commenters to share their own experiences of pregnancy loss, Baldwin was once again praised for shining a light on a topic that isn’t often openly discussed.

“It’s really brave to share such a thing,” one user wrote. “I have been through this when I was young and it was devastating. Nowadays my daughter is 18 years old! Keep on smiling and with your family love everything will be all right.”

“My sympathies, Hilaria and family. In your position of importance you can really make a difference for all of us who have been silenced by societal pressure. Thank you for sharing your story and opening this dialogue publicly,” another commented.

View this post on Instagram

I want to share with you that I am most likely experiencing a miscarriage. I always promised myself that if I were to get pregnant again, I would share the news with you guys pretty early, even if that means suffering a public loss. I have always been so open with you all about my family, fitness, pregnancies…and I don’t want to keep this from you, just because it isn’t as positive and shiny as the rest. I think it’s important to show the truth…because my job is to help people by being real and open. Furthermore, I have no shame or embarrassment with this experience. I want to be a part of the effort to normalize miscarriage and remove the stigma from it. There is so much secrecy during the first trimester. This works for some, but I personally find it to be exhausting. I’m nauseous, tired, my body is changing. And I have to pretend that everything is just fine—and it truly isn’t. I don’t want to have to pretend anymore. I hope you understand. So, this is what is going on now: the embryo has a heartbeat, but it isn’t strong, and the baby isn’t growing very much. So we wait—and this is hard. So much uncertainty…but the chances are very, very small that this is a viable pregnancy. I have complete confidence that my family and I will get through this, even if the journey is difficult. I am so blessed with my amazing doctor, my dear friends, and my loving family…My husband and my four very healthy babies help me keep it together and have the perspective of how truly beautiful life is, even when it occasionally seems ugly. The luck and gratitude I feel that I am my babies’ mommy, is wonderfully overwhelming and comforting. In your comments, please be kind. I’m feeling a bit fragile and I need support. I’m hoping, that by sharing this, I can contribute to raising awareness about this sensitive topic.

A post shared by Hilaria Thomas Baldwin (@hilariabaldwin) on Apr 4, 2019 at 6:47am PDT

As well as trying to normalise the conversation surrounding the topic of pregnancy loss, Hilaria has also helped raise awareness about the symptoms of early miscarriage.

What are the symptoms of early miscarriage?

According to Liz Halliday, Deputy Head of Midwifery at Private Midwives the most common sign of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding.

“This can present as bright red, pink or brown bleeding, and may be very light (spotting) or heavier (more like a heavy period).

“However, light spotting can be quite common in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, so don’t worry too much if you experience some, but it’s advisable to speak to your health care provider for reassurance and investigations if this is happening to you,” she adds.

READ MORE: Study gives hope to women who have a miscarriage after their first round of IVF

Liz says you might also experience some period like cramping, some vaginal discharge or you might pass some blood clots.

“Some women find that a sudden cessation of pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness or breast tenderness can be a sign, but this is also common around 12-14 weeks as part of the normal physiology of pregnancy,” she explains.

What to do if you experience these symptoms

“If you are concerned that you might be having a miscarriage, the best thing to do is contact your health care provider for advice and attend an Early Pregnancy Unit where they can offer you blood tests and a scan to see what is happening,” Liz suggests.

They will also offer you support and advice if you are experiencing a miscarriage.

“If you experience severe pain (often one sided), sudden vomiting or diarrhoea, feeling unwell, shoulder tip pain or heavy bleeding, it is important to attend your nearest hospital immediately (if you are unable to travel or do not have your own transport call 999 and ask for an ambulance) as you could be experiencing an ectopic pregnancy or an infection and you may need emergency medical care,” Liz adds.