Celebrity mums open up about the heartbreak of baby loss and miscarriage

Losing a baby is a heartbreak that many go through, but not everyone talks about. In the UK, one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage or baby loss, and half of all adults have either been through it or know someone who has. Most miscarriages happen in the first 12 weeks, affecting 10-20% of pregnancies.

The silence around miscarriage can make the pain even harder to bear, which is why opening up about it is so important. According to the WHO, many mothers who go through baby loss face stigma, shame, and guilt worldwide. Thankfully, more celebrities are using their platforms to break the taboo and raise awareness.

“Miscarriage remains a taboo topic, but by sharing our experiences, we can cope better and help other women realise they’re not alone,” Jorgie Porter tells Mother&Baby. Giovanna Fletcher adds, "When you read something that echoes your own experience, it's like someone is reaching out and holding your hand. Knowing you're not alone can help massively."

In light of Baby Loss Awareness Week 2024, we share the personal stories of celebrity mums who’ve bravely opened up about their own experiences with miscarriage and baby loss, bringing attention to this emotional journey many women face.

Jorgie Porter

Hollyoaks star Jorgie Porter has courageously opened up about her baby plans while reflecting on the heartbreak of her past miscarriages, including the devastating loss of quadruplets.

Reflecting on her journey, Jorgie shared, “When I was pregnant with Forrest [son], after we lost the quadruplets, I felt like we couldn’t celebrate this baby until he was in our arms. I still feel that way now, even though I’m trying to find joy in this pregnancy.”

Jorgie is currently in her third trimester and is expecting a baby girl.

“I have worries and thoughts, and I know you never know what can happen. So, while I was very much against celebrating early during my first pregnancy, I’m trying to enjoy these stages more this time around, like doing a bump photo shoot, which I didn’t do with Forrest.”

However, the anxiety is always present. As the due date approaches, Jorgie finds herself feeling increasingly panicky and nervous. “You don’t always realise how your mood is shifting until someone asks if you’re okay. It’s definitely a challenge, both physically and mentally,” she explains.

Jorgie emphasises that miscarriage remains a taboo topic, but by sharing experiences, many can cope better and help other women realise they’re not alone. She also highlights how men suffer during miscarriage too; her partner Ollie was devastated. “By voicing his feelings, he helped us through, because that encouraged me to speak about mine as well.”

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence revealed in her 2022 Vogue cover story that she experienced two miscarriages before welcoming her son. The Oscar-winning actress shared that her first pregnancy occurred in her early twenties. Although she had considered having an abortion, her pregnancy ended differently: “I had a miscarriage alone in Montreal,” she recalled.

Years later, while filming Don’t Look Up and now married to art dealer Cooke Maroney, she became pregnant again, feeling excited to start a family. Unfortunately, she faced another miscarriage, which required a D&C—a surgical procedure to remove tissue from the uterus.

Anna Whitehouse

At 43, Anna Whitehouse is currently pregnant, having navigated a challenging journey through seven pregnancies, resulting in the birth of two little ones, while also experiencing the heartache of losing babies between 6 and 19 weeks. Anna told Mother&Baby that "You never really recover from loss."

She adds, "You think of those little lives you named, the nursery you prepared, and the life you imagined for them. In medical terminology, words like ‘viable fetus’ feel so cold and clinical; they create a distance from that tiny life form. I've held on to the love I have for those babies just as much as I do for this one and my two that are here with me.

I want to educate my daughters about the realities of pregnancy. It’s not like achieving milestones such as landing a job or marrying a partner, where you have some control over the outcome. You choose who you end up with and how much effort you put into getting a house. But pregnancy and childbirth are a roller coaster ride. Nothing is certain until you hear that first cry.

This uncertainty has defined my experience throughout all my pregnancies. I can’t celebrate until I see someone holding their baby because premature celebrations can lead to profound pain if that little life is taken away. The grief that follows such loss only compounds the sorrow. So, I’ve learned to take each day as it comes, recognising that justified pregnancy anxiety often follows loss.

For many of us, checking for blood every day becomes a reality. If you experience bleeding, your mind goes to the darkest places, even though bleeding can be quite normal during pregnancy. It’s triggering for so many. I believe it’s essential to acknowledge the privilege of motherhood and express gratitude for even being pregnant. Celebrating milestones, like a baby shower, feels too premature for me until that first cry is heard.”

Sophie McCartney

Comedian and influencer Sophie McCartney has experienced two miscarriages, each very different from the other. Her first, at seven weeks, was an early miscarriage that she went through alone at home.

"My first miscarriage happened at home, and really, support-wise there were only the formalities because it was seen as a straightforward early miscarriage by the doctors. There wasn't really anything else for them to do, and I was sent merrily on my way – I didn’t receive any kind of information or aftercare."

Her second miscarriage during the lockdown was a missed miscarriage and came with a long period of uncertainty.

"My second miscarriage was a traumatising event, but because I was held in limbo for weeks, not knowing whether I was going to miscarry or not, going back and forth, waiting, the uncertainty was the most difficult part. The point where they told me the pregnancy wasn't going to continue was almost a relief because I finally knew what was happening."

Sophie noted the importance of talking more openly about miscarriage.

"When people say, 'Oh it’s normal, it happens all the time, you can get pregnant again,' I think it trivialises the loss. When you're going through miscarriage, it doesn’t feel normal. The more we talk about it as a society, the better we can support women and shift how it’s dealt with."

Anne Hathaway

Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway has also been open about her miscarriage in 2015, which occurred while she was portraying a pregnant character on stage. She recalled how isolating the experience felt.

"The first time it didn’t work out for me. I was doing a play and I had to give birth onstage every night," Anne told Vanity Fair. She later revealed that after speaking out, many women approached her to share their own stories.

"For three years after, almost daily, a woman came up to me in tears and I would just hold her, because she was carrying this [pain] around and suddenly it wasn't all hers anymore."

Anne shared that her experience of loss made her realise how widespread the issue was, saying, "I thought, 'Where is this information? Why are we feeling so unnecessarily isolated?' That’s where we take on damage. So I decided that I was going to talk about it."

Jessie J

In 2021, singer Jessie J revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage in a now-deleted Instagram post. She shared, “Yesterday morning, I was laughing with a friend, saying, ‘Seriously though, how am I going to get through my gig in LA tomorrow night without telling the whole audience I am pregnant?’ By yesterday afternoon, I was dreading the thought of getting through the gig without breaking down… After going for my third scan and being told there was no longer a heartbeat 💔."

Jessie also disclosed that she had chosen to have a baby on her own because “it’s all I’ve ever wanted, and life is short. To get pregnant was a miracle in itself and an experience I will never forget, and I know I will have again.”

She expressed that she was still processing her loss, “I’m still in shock; the sadness is overwhelming. But I know I am strong, and I know I will be okay. I also know millions of women all over the world have felt this pain—and far worse. I feel connected to those of you I know and those of you I don’t. It’s the loneliest feeling in the world.”

One year later she shared, “It still hurts, and all day I have just been thinking about all the women, men, and families who have been through this numerous times and how incredibly strong they are. Grief is such a weird journey. Time helps, but it never truly fades.”

Jessie welcomed his first son in May 2023.

Louise Thompson

In 2021, Made In Chelsea star Louise Thompson opened up about the heartbreaking loss she and her boyfriend, Ryan Libby, experienced earlier that year. In an Instagram post, she wrote:

“I wanted to share my story because it might help someone,” Louise shared. “I’ve always been taught that a problem shared is a problem halved, and I encourage others to talk about their struggles, so it’s time for me to practice what I preach.

“Earlier this year, we lost our baby, and it was HARD. Honestly, I had no idea it was possible to love someone I had never met quite so much. From the moment I saw the lines on the pregnancy test, I began to form an emotional connection, and my whole world changed. For that to be taken away was devastating.”

Louise emphasised the importance of looking beyond the 'perfect lives' often portrayed on Instagram, noting that what happens behind the scenes is far more complex than what we see in our feeds.

“The journey of fertility can be rough and overwhelming, but you are not alone—and you will never be alone. After opening up to a few friends, I realised that many others have gone through similar experiences.”

She added that these friendships and honest conversations were instrumental in her healing process. “I found it very comforting to talk to them about their experiences of loss and grief. It was also incredibly reassuring to learn that there isn’t much you can do to prevent it from happening.

“I don’t feel any guilt or blame for what happened to me. It just wasn’t meant to be, and hopefully, it will create space for something beautiful in the future.”

Later that year, Louise and Ryan welcomed their first son, Leo.

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle

In 2020, Meghan shocked the world when she opened up about her miscarriage in a powerful piece for the New York Times, she explained the heartache. The beautiful essay focused on her loss and the losses and struggles the world has faced in 2020.

She wrote, “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.”

She goes on to say, “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.”

“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.”

Chrissy Teigen

In 2020, American model Chrissy shared her pain upon finding out the baby boy she was carrying was stillborn at 20 weeks in a selection of moving photos she posted on Instagram. She wrote, "We are shocked and in the kind of deep pain you only hear about, the kind of pain we’ve never felt before. We were never able to stop the bleeding and give our baby the fluids he needed, despite bags and bags of blood transfusions. It just wasn’t enough."

Later explaining her decision to post the personal photos in a blog post on Medium, Chrissy said, "I had asked my mom and John to take pictures, no matter how uncomfortable it was. I explained to a very hesitant John that I needed them, and that I did NOT want to have to ever ask. That he just had to do it. He hated it. I could tell. It didn’t make sense to him at the time. But I knew I needed to know of this moment forever, the same way I needed to remember us kissing at the end of the aisle, the same way I needed to remember our tears of joy after Luna and Miles. And I absolutely knew I needed to share this story."

Chrissy went on to address those who responded negatively to her photos at the time. "I cannot express how little I care that you hate the photos. How little I care that it’s something you wouldn’t have done. I lived it, I chose to do it, and more than anything, 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. These photos are only for the people who need them. The thoughts of others do not matter to me."

Lily Allen

Singer Lily Allen was six months pregnant when she suffered a stillbirth in 2010 and almost lost her life after she contracted septicemia.
"I nearly died," Lily told The Sun on Sunday. "But I was so numb and I didn’t care. I’d just lost my baby and that is how numb I was." Although the Hard Out Here singer puts on a brave face, she admits, "It’s something that I still haven’t dealt with. I will never get over it. I have dealt with it, you know as being at one with it. But it’s not something you get over. I held my child and it was really horrific and painful – one of the hardest things that can happen to a person."

Jaime King

The actress and mum-of-two Jaime King has suffered multiple miscarriages and difficulties with trying to conceive. She may now be a mum to James and Leo but she went through a lot of fertility difficulties before welcoming her two sons.

The Hart of Dixie star chose to share her TTC difficulties on Instagram – showing her support for couples going through the same thing.

Jaime posted a photo of a long note on her account, which she has since taken down, explaining her eight-year struggle with trying to conceive before she became a mum. The note read, "For all the struggling women & moms out there that think they are alone – This is the truth about conceiving my son and struggles after 8 yrs of pain and undiagnosed PCOS & Endometriosis."
"9 doctors until Dr. Randy Harris diagnosed me & saved my life from a severe ectopic, 5 miscarriages, 5 rounds of IVF, 26 IUI's, most with no outcome, 4½ years of trying to conceive, 26 hours of brutal labor, early delivery b/c of sudden preeclampsia, tearing and tearing after the stitches were in once I was home, milk supply issues, painful mastitis, uncontrollable crying while breast feeding, worked until the day before birth and went back after 6 weeks after because I was afraid of letting others down," Jaime wrote.
The actress captioned the image, writing, "For all the women out there who think they are alone in this #youarenotalone #ihavetobebravetosupportothers #realtalkthatterrifiesus"

Giovanna Fletcher

To show her support for our mental health campaign Where's Your Head At?, Giovanna Fletcher spoke to us about her experiences with mental health. The mum of three revealed that her biggest emotional battle was "going through a miscarriage. [It] was the hardest thing. It feels like such a lonely grief."

"For me [the miscarriage] happened at 6 weeks, so before we had really told anyone [about the pregnancy]. So then when you are telling people [about your miscarriage], you’re not only telling them that you were pregnant but that you’d lost a child. I felt like I’d failed me, I’d failed Tom [and] I’d failed the baby."

She added, "it was my first taste of motherhood and I think it affected me in a really bad way."

Gemma Collins

TOWIE star Gemma Collins who miscarried in 2012, told Loose Women that she has also suffered a miscarriage during the Coronavirus lockdown.

"It was really difficult for me in isolation because, as you know, with my condition of PCOS, it's not easy to fall pregnant and I did suffer a miscarriage which was really sad during the lockdown period."

"I can remember thinking the month before, 'Ooh, my boobs seem really perky!' Then 3 or 4 days into a heavy period really realising it's not like a usual period… but thinking there's been a lot going on lately, maybe my body's been a bit stressed."

It was Gemma's sister-in-law who advised her to seek medical attention. "It went on for 10 days between 9am and midday, I was getting through 10 super sanitary towels. Then it was my sister-in-law, not to be graphic, but I had to show her. I said, 'I don't think this is normal.' I rang my doctor and he said, 'You need to go straight to the hospital.' It was very sad. But it does make me realise that potentially there is hope there for me for the future."

Izzy Judd

Writer, blogger and member of electric string quartet Escala Izzy Judd spoke to charity Tommy's about her experience of miscarriage before having her two children Lola and Kit.

"When I was bleeding I had this overwhelming desire to give our baby one last bit of love, almost like I needed to allow them to go. I went to the loo and I will never forget that sensation of losing our baby, when you pass everything that you’d longed for and dreamed about. How do you just let them go? I didn’t know whether to look, whether to flush, in the end I shouted my husband Harry and said, ‘I’m so sorry.’"

"Miscarriage is so lonely, you feel completely empty because, whatever day, week or month you are, you’ve felt that bond, that connection with that little soul and you feel such guilt that you’ve failed them in some way."

Binky Felstead

During Baby Loss Awareness week 2020, Made in Chelsea star Binky Felstead told her followers that she had been pregnant with her second child after daughter India but had recently had a miscarriage. She wrote on Instagram, "I’ve thought long and hard about doing this post, but I felt that if I can pass on any warmth, comfort or help to anybody in the same position - well that would be great. It’s only fair that I share some of my “downs” as well as my “up” moments."

"Today would have been my 18 week mark, but sadly we had an early miscarriage just before 12 weeks. Not only was this heartbreaking for us, but it also came as such a shock to me. I hadn’t realised until then how blessed I was with having such a relatively straight forward pregnancy with India - I’ll admit I was naive enough to assume the next one would be as straightforward, but I had two early scans as I was concerned I was bleeding. They found a ‘very strong’ heartbeat. However, on the third scan I was told ‘I’m afraid there’s no heartbeat’."

"I was told by my doctor that one in four pregnancies miscarry (not that statistics make it any easier!) With 82% of my following being women - that means roughly 237,800 women “following” me could (or have) experienced the same, which is just so sad. When speaking to a few close friends about our situation, we learned that some of them too have had miscarriages in the past. I asked them why they’ve never said anything, and they just said they felt they couldn't, or shouldn’t talk about it. Almost like it’s a taboo subject, which is heartbreaking."

"If you have been through this, I hope you are giving yourself time to mentally and physically heal and do what you need. I keep reminding myself that there was nothing I could have done, and perhaps this was nature’s way of saying that for whatever reason, this little soul wasn’t ready for the world. Sending so so much love 🤍🙏🏼"

Binky then went on to share a helpful resource, Miscarriage Association, a national charity that provides support and information for anyone who’s affected by miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, this includes both women and men. You can call their helpline or talk to them on live chat or even message them on Instagram, and they will do whatever they can to help you through.

Paloma Faith

In July 2020 Paloma featured on Giovanna Fletcher’s “Happy Mum, Happy Baby” podcast, revealing she had experienced a miscarriage in 2019.

“Last year I was trying again and it was strange because once my daughter turned 18 months I suddenly was like, ‘I want another one. This is the best’,” she said.

“Then I had a miscarriage and it’s sort of an ongoing thing.”

In September 2020 she announced that after six rounds of IVF, she was pregnant. Paloma shared a post on her instagram page with the following honest and heartfelt caption: "It is with extreme pleasure I announce I am pregnant...This child is so wanted, it's my 6th round of IVF and it was a struggle to get here. I had a very traumatic first birth and I am also prone to postpartum depression. Being a mother is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me but I will swell up and I won't 'glow'! I intend to be very real about this with you all!"

Perinatal expert Crystal Miles shares five things you should never say after a miscarriage

This well-meaning phrase can invalidate somebody’s experience. The loss of a child shouldn’t be minimised and regardless of the circumstances surrounded the loss, the parent needs to grieve their baby. It’s simply insensitive.

Whether 4 weeks or 40 weeks, a baby is a baby, and a loss is a loss. The moment you find out you’re pregnant, you plan for a future. In no other circumstance of loss would you use this expression. You may also not be aware of the journey it took to get to this “early” stage.

Don’t discard the depth of feeling around this baby, give time for healing and grief. Baby loss can have a significant impact on both physical and emotional health and it’s not the time to be thinking about trying again. Another baby is not a replacement for this one.

When you stop to think about it, would you ever say this to a person who lost a child after pregnancy? Once again this can invalidate their experience and even cause suppressed emotions. You can be grateful for what you have whilst simultaneously feeling the loss deeply.

There is no comfort in this statement, whether falling pregnant was easy, accidental, longed for or assisted. There can be complicated emotions around trying to conceive that you may not be aware of.  Any response that starts with “at least” is a no no that doesn’t acknowledge the loss of their baby.

So what should you say instead?

Crystal says, "It’s actually much simpler than you think. The key word is empathy. Statements such as 'I’m so sorry for your loss', 'I’m here for you' or 'is there anything I can do for you?' are perfect. It’s also OK if you don’t really know what to say, so just say that. 'I don’t know what to say, I can’t imagine, but I’m here for you' is all that’s needed.

Let them know that you’re thinking about them. Let them know that you’re there to listen, or to just be with them.

Finally, don’t be afraid that you are reminding them, they haven’t forgotten, so check in with them as time passes too."

If you need support

Miscarriage and baby loss are deeply personal experiences, and though most miscarriages are a “one-off,” the emotional pain can be immense. If you or someone you know is struggling, it's important to seek support and know you’re not alone.For advice and support, visit www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk orwww.tommys.org or call 01924 200 799.

Join the Global "Wave of Light"

On October 15th, Baby Loss Awareness Week concludes with the global "Wave of Light." At 7pm local time, families around the world light candles in remembrance of babies lost too soon. You can join this global event virtually by sharing a photo of your candle using the hashtag #WaveOfLight, or participating in the Baby Loss Awareness Week livestream.

For more information and to purchase a Wave of Light candle, visit the Baby Loss Awareness Week shop.

About the expert

Crystal Miles (CIMI, FdSC, DipION, DipHB) is an international trainer in baby massage, an infant bonding and communication expert, doula, and the founder of Connected Babies. Crystal passionately believes that a generation of responsive, nurturing parenting could change the world and that the nurturing touch provides an enjoyable and accessible way for every human being to experience the value and the far-reaching benefits of positive early interaction.

About the author

Anne Lora Scagliusi is a Senior Digital Writer at Mother & Baby. She is a Scotland-based journalist with over a decade of international writing experience, specialising in women’s health, maternal mental health, and wellness. Her work has been featured in Vanity Fair, Marie Claire, and Glamour and has appeared on several Vogue global editions. She is mum to a one-year-old bambino and lives between Italy and the UK. You can follow her on Instagram.