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Life After Stillbirth and Miscarriage

One Woman's Story of Pregnancy Loss and Survival

By Jessica Frank

I felt alive again for the first time in awhile. The stillbirth and loss of my son had made me feel dead inside. I functioned like a zombie. Suddenly I could see flowers blooming and hear birds singing again. I smelled the smell of a cake baking at a bakery. I wanted to run, to sing. I wanted to shout about the joy of being alive again.

It was the end of the school year. Anyone who knows children knows that they are not at their best during May and June. They are done. Summer vacation and swimming pools beckon. The last thing they want to do is math, social studies and writing. For the first time ever in my career, I was as laid back as they were. I kept doodling on my desk during their seatwork time and drawing babies, cribs and coming up with names. They must have thought that I'd lost my mind.

Everything went great until week 6. On week 6, day 2, I had spotting. It only lasted for five minutes, but it was enough to tell me that something just wasn't right. I called the doctor and she had me come in for a sonogram. She put me in the room where I had lost Derek, and I sat shaking in Andy's arms. It turned out to be fine. The sonogram showed a normal sac and a yolk sac. They didn't see any sign of miscarriage. But my gut was telling me that something wasn't right. I insisted on an HCG and progesterone test.

Lucky I did. My HCG was fine, but my progesterone had dropped from a 15.1 to a 7. A 7 is miscarriage level. I was told that I needed progesterone "like yesterday." My mom raced me over to the hospital pharmacy. They gave me suppositories and a "launcher" to insert them.

Want to see more?

• Peaceful Pregnancy with Progesterone: Can Progesterone Treatment Help Prevent Miscarriage and Preterm Birth?
• You've Had a Miscarriage: Taking Steps to Reduce the Risk of Miscarrying Again
• Pregnancy After Miscarriage: What to Expect from Pregnancy After Miscarriage
• Life after Miscarriage: Preparing for a Healthy Pregnancy After Miscarriage
• Join the discussion on our Family.com community!