A mother-of-two from Norfolk, England, who suffered seven miscarriages before has called for more support for families that are dealing with baby loss. Caroline Pocock, who resides in Wymondham, told ITV News that she got pregnant nine times since 2009, all but two of which ended in miscarriage.
According to Pocock, the experience of having a miscarriage left her feeling isolated and lonely due to a lack of support. Once she got married to her husband Karl, they immediately started trying for a baby but she did not realize the process of building a family would give them both so much heartbreak.
Pocock, who works as a reflexologist, said she thought that like a lot of other couples, getting married and having children will be quite straightforward. Unfortunately for Pocock and her husband, that was not the case at all.
Miscarriages and misery hound Pocock
Pocock said that when they lost the first one, she was told it was just bad luck and that it was just one of those things. More misery came to the couple, though, with Pocock suffering four more miscarriages. According to Pocock, it was during that point that she began to think that she would never become a mother.
Pocock told Eastern Daily Press that her problems continued as she went on to suffer her sixth miscarriage. Good news finally arrived, though, in 2012, as she finally welcomed her first son, Zachary. Pocock said she was feeling anxious all throughout the pregnancy, though, concerned that it will not go full-term again.
Pocock wanted to give her eldest child a little brother or sister so she and her husband decided to try for another kid once again. It did not go according to plan, though, with Pocock suffering two more miscarriages. Pocock said that the last miscarriage was particularly horrible, as she ended up in A&E. The family decided then that she would not go through another pregnancy again.
More support needed for families dealing with baby loss
Never say never, though, as Pocock, much to her surprise, unexpectedly fell pregnant in 2020. She gave birth to another son, who they named Rafferty. Just like when she had Zach, Pocock did not have the luxury of enjoying her latest pregnancy with miscarriage concerns keeping her constantly worried.
Pocock said that she originally tried to contain her emotions as she felt she was the only person going through it. Pocock decided to eventually seek the help and support of pregnancy and baby loss charity Tommy's. She said that the midwives from Tommy's were amazing and they just gave her a different perspective in life.
According to Tommy's baby loss research, 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage and that 1 in 100 women suffer 3 or more consecutive miscarriages. It is a serious problem that needs to be given more attention. Pocock is doing her part as she will run in the London Landmarks Half Marathon for Tommy's to raise money for the charity and encourage other parents to speak out about their plight.
