Meghan Markle ‘took time to privately process’ tragic miscarriage before public revelation – and is in good health
MEGHAN Markle took time to privately process her tragic miscarriage before her brave public revelation, a source has claimed.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, today revealed the "unbearable grief" she and husband Prince Harry had gone through after the miscarriage in July.
⚠️ Read our Meghan and Harry blog for the latest news on the Royal couple
In an emotional op-ed for the , the duchess recalled how it had been a normal morning looking after their then 14-month-old son Archie when she felt the "sharp cramp".
In the moving piece, she wrote: "After changing his diaper, I felt a sharp cramp. I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right.
"I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second. Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband’s hand.
"I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears. Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we’d heal.";
Since the piece was published, a source close to the Duchess of Sussex confirmed Meghan is currently in "good health".
The source said the couple had taken time to process what happened and made the decision to talk about it publicly after realising how common miscarriages are.
In October, the couple cooed over their son Archie - saying the toddler kept them "on their toes" during the lockdown.
And Meghan touched on the decision to speak publicly about the tragedy in the personal essay, saying miscarriage was still a taboo subject which led to a "cycle of solitary mourning".
The former actress said she wanted to encourage people to ask "are you OK?" this holiday season.
In the touching essay, she added: "Sitting in a hospital bed, watching my husband’s heart break as he tried to hold the shattered pieces of mine, I realized that the only way to begin to heal is to first ask, 'Are you OK?'"
Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Clarence house said they would not comment as it was "a deeply personal matter". But a royal source said: "There is understandable sadness in the family."
Royal expert Katie Nicholl today the BBC Prince Harry had been supported by his family in the UK.
She said: "The royal family were very supportive about it. They were aware of what had happened.
"Harry was in constant touch with them over the summer and they knew what they were going through.
"My understanding is they've been supported by the royal family on this episode."
Sun photographer Arthur Edwards today expressed his condolences to the couple, saying the Royal Family would have been "very upset" and would have sent messages of support.
Meghan wrote in the powerful op-ed: "Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few.
"In the pain of our loss, my husband and I discovered that in a room of 100 women, 10 to 20 of them will have suffered from miscarriage.
"Yet despite the staggering commonality of this pain, the conversation remains taboo, riddled with (unwarranted) shame, and perpetuating a cycle of solitary mourning."
She added: "Some have bravely shared their stories; they have opened the door, knowing that when one person speaks truth, it gives license for all of us to do the same.
"We have learned that when people ask how any of us are doing, and when they really listen to the answer, with an open heart and mind, the load of grief often becomes lighter — for all of us.
"In being invited to share our pain, together we take the first steps toward healing."
Yet despite their hidden heartache, the couple were seen in August helping a charity hand out supplies to families in LA.
The former actress also reflected on the trials of 2020, noting the "loss and pain" people have felt from losing loved ones to coronavirus and the wave of Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
What is a miscarriage and how common are they?
A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks in the UK, and 20 weeks in the US.
After this point, a pregnancy loss is classed as a stillbirth.
Sadly, miscarriages are common with most happening in the first three months - the first trimester.
An estimated one in eight pregnancies will end in miscarriage, according to the NHS.
But, in many cases a miscarriage will happen before a woman knows she's pregnant.
It is important to know miscarriages rarely happen because of something you did, or didn't do. In most cases, doctors don't know what causes the loss, which makes it very hard to prevent them.
However, there are lifestyle changes that can help reduce the risk of a miscarriage, according to the charity Tommy's.
They include not smoking, eating a healthy, balanced diet, losing weight before pregnancy if you're overweight or obese, trying to avoid infections in pregnancy like rubella, not drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs, staying active and limiting caffeine intake.
The risk of miscarriage does also increase with age, according to Tommy's.
Women under 30 have a 10 per cent chance of miscarriage, which doubles to 20 per cent for women aged 35 to 39. For those over the age of 45, the risk is 50 per cent.
The most common sign of miscarriage is bleeding, but cramping, a discharge of fluid or tissue from your vagina and no longer 'feeling' pregnant are also symptoms.
Many women will notice light bleeding in the early stages of pregnancy, but if you are worried it is important to speak to your midwife or hospital straight away.
Losing a baby is a deeply personal experience that affects people differently.
No matter when in your pregnancy you suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth, support is available from hospital counselling services as well as Tommy's and other charity groups.
Meghan and Harry were married in May 2018 at St George's Chapel, going on to welcome son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor into the world a year later.
The couple kept the birth of Archie very private and chose not to reveal the hospital where he would be born or pose for pictures with him immediately after his arrival. His christening was also a private affair.
When they introduced Archie to the world two days after his birth, the parents gushed over his arrival.
New mum Meghan said at the time: "It's magic, it's pretty amazing. I have the two best guys in the world so I'm really happy."
She added: "He has the sweetest temperament, he's really calm."
The couple have made no secret of their desire for a second child but they previously said two would be their limit for environmental reasons.
The couple quit the Royal Family in January this year before moving to the US a few months later.
They then bought their own home in Santa Barbara, California, in July.
That same month, the duchess had a Mail on Sunday High Court hearing that saw Meghan apply to stop her five friends who spoke to People magazine from being named.
Finding Freedom was serialised in The Times and Sunday Times at the end of July.
It is not the first time the members of the Royal Family have opened up about suffering from miscarriages.
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She and husband Mike Tindall had just announced the pregnancy a month before.
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In an interview with The Sunday Times, Zara said: "I had to go through having the baby because it was so far along. I then had another miscarriage really early on."
Tommy’s is here to help you. You can talk to a Tommy’s midwife for free, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. You can call them on 0800 0147 800 or email [email protected].