In the English language when you add ‘mis’ to a word it negates the word that is added. It speaks of a failure to the verb that ought to have been carried out or done. There are many of these: miscommunication, misconception, misunderstanding, misinformation, mistake, miscalculate. But out of all of these the one with the most impact is miscarriage.
Any woman with ovaries and a womb would quite easily assume they have the ability of carrying a child. Being able to do what ought to be a natural part of being a woman. Women’s bodies are designed for the carriage of a foetus from it being conceived to it being born. It’s the beauty of reproduction; bringing forth life from oneself, creating a replica of oneself and another.
Miscarriage has the connotation of failure just in the word itself. A failure to carry, when carriage is exactly what you ought to have done or be doing.
Some rationalise that when it happens at an early stage it hurts less, while at later stages of pregnancy it hurts the most. Unfortunately, none can accurately generalise pain for anyone. However, the feeling of failure to do what one is designed to do is overwhelming. It’s not failing a test, it’s failing to keep alive your own creation and such failure is immeasurable.
What does it feel like? You’ll only know when it happens to you. And even then you will not be able to measure how you feel with how others feel. Because as with all failures, they’re not a group effort but fall squarely on an individual’s shoulders.
May no woman ever miss the carriage…
penpushers 