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'Secrecy and shame': When Fatima suffered heartbreaking loss, help was hard to access

Pregnancy loss is something thousands of women have to bear, leading to intense grief and isolation. But with the stigma around pregnancy loss still prominent, especially in migrant communities, accessing support can be a challenge. - www.sbs.com.au

Fatima Al-Assaad is a proud mother of two but her journey to parenthood hasn't been easy. In 2021, she lost her daughter Aya, who was stillborn at 27 weeks The following year she experienced a second pregnancy loss, suffering a miscarriage early in the pregnancy. "Nobody wants to hear those dreaded words that there's no heartbeat and I think nothing can really prepare you for that moment," she said.

After losing both babies Fatima felt she had little time to process her loss. "It was more about, what can I do right now to ensure that my baby girl got a decent washing and shrouding and burial. "After that is when it kind of really just sinks in.

It wasn't until several weeks later where the crush of that pain really incapacitated me." Doctor Erin Seeto from Gidget Foundation Australia says this pain is all too common..

. Mahnaz Angury , Catriona Stirrat.