Chrissy Teigen Says Post-Miscarriage Photos Are Only for Those Who Need Them
What happened: Chrissy Teigen shared a blog post on Medium in which she discussed documenting her pregnancy and then recent miscarriage and the emotions she has been experiencing. Teigen had her husband John Legend take photos of her as she had a miscarriage because Teigen wanted to remember that day as clearly as her wedding day and the births of her two children.
Addressing criticism she received for posting photos of herself during and after her miscarriage, Teigen wrote that “these photos aren’t for anyone but the people who have lived this or are curious enough to wonder what something like this is like.” Teigen also shared “she worries people feel uncomfortable sharing their joy” after losing her pregnancy, highlighting how many mixed emotions people can feel after a miscarriage.
I feel bad our grief was so public because I made the joy so public. I was excited to share our news with the world. — Chrissy Teigen
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) October 27, 2020
The Frontlines: Miscarriages can be a taboo topic and are more common than one might think. By discussing her miscarriage and sharing photos, Teigen may help other people who are trying to work through their grief and other emotions.
- One in 8 pregnancies will end in a miscarriage among people who know they are pregnant, according to the U.K. National Health Service.
- There is no wrong way to cope after a miscarriage, and people may feel a range of emotions including sadness, shock, jealousy and guilt.
- In a 2018 interview with ABC News, Michelle Williams said she wrote about her miscarriage in her memoir to help others know they are not alone.
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A Mighty Voice: Contributor Sydni Marmor wrote about the importance of practicing self-love after miscarrying. “It’s OK for that love to go inward. Into that little heart inside. No longer only to your womb, but to the beautiful being that you see in your own eyes. Send that love to your aching heart, in the hopes that one day soon you too will shine.” You can submit your first person story, too.
From Our Community:
Other Things to Know: Navigating miscarriage can be lonely, and there are ways that you can support people through their loss. If someone you know or their partner had a miscarriage, here are some ways you can support them.
- 10 Ways to Support a Friend Grieving After a Miscarriage
- 10 Ways to Support Men’s Mental Health After Miscarriage
How to Take Action: You can read Chrissy Teigen’s full post on Medium here. Teigen wrote this post because she “needed to say something before [she] could move on from this and return back to life.”
Images via Chrissy Teigen’s Instagram
Julia Métraux is a health and culture writer whose work has appeared in Narratively, The Tempest, BUST, and Briarpatch Magazine. Follow her on Twitter at @metraux_julia and on Instagram @julia.metraux
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