Our hearts broke last week when model and cookbook author Chrissy Tengen and her hubby, musician Jon Legend shared they’d lost their son Jack. Now Kate Beckinsale has opened up about her own experience with pregnancy loss in support of the couple, who have come under fire on social media for sharing intimate photos of the loss of their baby.
In an emotional Instagram post on the weekend, the actress who shares a 21-year-old daughter Lily Mo with ex Michael Sheen, sent her love and support to Chrissy.
“I’ve noticed people criticizing @chrissyteigen for sharing deeply intimate photos of the loss of her baby,” Kate wrote in a moving caption. “As if there’s some protocol during soul-scouring calamity that, if not observed, emboldens people who do not know her or her family to say how she should be handling the unimaginable.”
She revealed that years ago she’d lost a baby at 20 weeks. “I had managed to keep my pregnancy quiet and I absolutely collapsed inside and no one would have known,” Kate continued. “There is grief, shame and shock so often that come with an experience like this, plus the heartbreak of your body continuing, after the loss, to act as if it had a child to nurture.”
ALSO SEE: This is why you shouldn’t blame yourself for a miscarriage
Kate went on to describe the feeling of loss following a miscarriage as “the loneliest, most soul-destroying period of time.”
“Your milk comes in, with no one to feed,” she explained, noting that the experience can be particular tough “if you are not in the position of having an emotionally connected, supportive partner like Chrissy has.”
She reminded critics that it should be an honour to be allowed into another person’s grief, especially with a subject like this, which often puts a woman into that hall of mirrors state of life continuing as if the world hasn’t for you, come to a bloody and terrible halt.
She added, “Thank you @chrissyteigen for making sure it is abundantly clear how devastating this is, and how life changing it can be without support. Let’s let the grieving decide what’s right for them. Send support or keep quiet. This is a really hard time to bear…”
Kate also shared a handwritten note on pregnancy loss on Instagram.
“Some babies are born to be angels and given Heaven instead. They are carried inside the hearts of broken-hearted parents and their families forever; learning to fly with wings in paradise, where nothing can hurt them, instead of learning to walk on Earth,” read the message.
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Chrissy Teigen lost her baby last week after she was put on best rest, and later hospitalised when she started bleeding excessively. Despite several blood transfusions, she shared that “It just wasn’t enough”.
ALSO SEE: Our hearts break as Chrissy Teigen loses her baby after pregnancy complications
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Content editor and writer on Living & Loving, Sonya has over 25 years experience in the media industry. She edited Living & Loving magazine for six-and-a-half years and is the former editor of Longevity magazine. She’s won numerous media industry awards and is passionate about the health and wellbeing of moms and children.
Outside of work, she enjoys trying out recipes, reading crime mysteries and thrillers, practicing yoga, and exploring new destinations.
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