Thank You, Meghan Markle: A Reflection on Miscarriage and Loss

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Earlier this week, HRH Meghan Markle revealed in a New York Times op-ed that she suffered a miscarriage in July. I was immediately thankful and grateful to Meghan for sharing. I’ve written about my own losses, and how a celebrity sharing her own experience can help normalize this very common occurrence.

Not only did she reveal her and Harry’s personal pain, but she also linked it to all human suffering by discussing the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. She was reminding us that the pain of loss is universal.

Are you OK?

She reminded us that we should ask people, “Are you OK?” and then do our part to listen to the answer, in earnest. We, and everyone around us, are navigating life and all that comes with it: the highs, lows, successes, and failures. In a world where it seems everyone is just trying to find the perfect picture to post on Instagram, we should find a way to connect genuinely with others. This means understanding that not every conversation will be pleasant. Some will be sad. Others will just be.

As the first Black royal, Meghan has come under intense scrutiny. She has turned that negative into a positive by using her platform to bring awareness to causes close to her heart. She has done it again to shine a light on the difficulty of miscarriage.

Miscarriage is common.

She explained that in a room of 100 women, 10 to 20 would have suffered from a miscarriage. As so many moms have shared on this site (here, here, and here), it is quite stunning how common miscarriage is, but something that is rarely talked about.

Chrissy Teigen also recently shared with the world the loss of her son Jack, even sharing heart-wrenching pictures of the journey. All too often the journey of life is only wrapped up in cute baby photos. We should acknowledge that the journey also includes loss. Thanks to Chrissy—and now Meghan—we saw a glimpse into the other side.

Thank you, Meghan, for using your voice.