Pregnancy Loss During the Holidays: Navigating a Tender Season
The holiday season can feel like a minefield when you’re grieving a pregnancy loss. Everywhere you turn, there are reminders of family, celebration, and milestones that should have been part of your story this year. While the world speeds up with festivities and expectations, your heart may be moving much more slowly, or not moving at all.
I want to name something clearly: There is nothing wrong with you if this season feels unbearably heavy. Loss changes how we experience the world, especially during times that highlight what (or who) is missing.
Why the Holidays Can Feel So Hard
The holidays bring a unique mix of emotional triggers. Whether it’s seeing children or pregnant relatives, hearing well-meaning but painful comments, facing family gatherings, or navigating social media full of announcements and celebrations. It’s a time when comparison can creep in, and grief can feel louder.
For many, there’s also the painful contrast between the “joy” expected on the outside and the heartbreak happening on the inside. That mismatch alone can be exhausting.
You might notice:
A resurgence of grief, even if you felt more steady recently
Feeling forgotten or unseen by others
Anxiety about insensitive questions or baby-related conversations
Worries about being around family members who don’t know your story
Feeling disconnected from your body or struggling with self-blame
Guilt for not being “festive enough”
Avoidance of gatherings that feel overwhelming
A sense of being “left behind” when others share milestones
All of these reactions are valid. They’re your nervous system trying to protect you in a season that can feel unpredictable and emotionally loaded.
Ways to Support Yourself Through the Season
• Give yourself permission to do less.
You don’t owe anyone a cheerful performance.
• Choose where you spend your energy.
Attending fewer gatherings may help you feel more grounded.
• Create rituals that honor your baby or your grief.
Light a candle, buy an ornament, write a letter. Choose something that feels meaningful to you.
• Use grounding practices when emotions spike.
Breathing techniques, sensory grounding, or mindfulness can help regulate your system.
• Identify a safe person for support.
Lean on someone who can sit with your feelings without minimizing them.
• Protect yourself from triggering content.
Muting or stepping away from social media is an act of self-love, not avoidance.
You Deserve Care and Compassion This Season
Your grief is real. Your love is real. And your heart deserves tenderness, especially now. If this season feels tender, heavy, or disorienting, please know you’re not broken. You’re grieving something profoundly meaningful.
You’re allowed to take this season one breath at a time.
I’m here with you, cheering for your healing, and holding space for the love and loss you carry.
If you’re in Virginia, West Virginia, or Washington DC and you’re longing for support, I’d be honored to walk with you. Reach out when you’re ready.
Disclaimer: The content shared on this website and blog is meant to offer education, encouragement, and support, but it is not a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or therapeutic care. Everyone’s journey is unique, and it’s always best to consult with a qualified healthcare or mental health professional about your specific needs or concerns. Reading this blog or connecting through franciswellness.com does not create a therapeutic relationship. If you are in crisis or need immediate help, please reach out to your local emergency services or contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) for free and confidential support 24/7.
