Woman Backed for Walking Out on Family Over Comments About Miscarriage

A woman's decision to leave a family gathering after overhearing hurtful comments about her miscarriage has sparked significant support from viewers on Reddit. The woman, 28, shared her emotional and challenging experience on the platform, detailing the strained family dynamics that led to her sudden departure from her dad's recent birthday dinner. Her story has resonated widely with viewers online, leading to many supportive comments that emphasize the complex nature of grief and the need for empathy and understanding following miscarriage. Her post, shared on January 5 under u/throwra_71839, describes the pain of losing her unborn child and the subsequent emotional fallout. Despite her efforts to reconnect with her family during her father's birthday celebration, she overheard her 33-year-old sister Eva's insensitive remarks, which led to her abrupt return home. Her story has garnered over 9,100 upvotes, with many users expressing their support for her actions. Newsweek reached out to u/throwra_71839 for more information via Reddit. Relationship therapist Leigh Norén told Newsweek that there still exists a stigma around miscarriages and that familial support is incredibly important to those affected by the loss of a pregnancy. "There's a stigma around miscarriages where society sometimes shames us for getting upset about losing a pregnancy if it's not deemed 'far along enough' or it's not our first baby,'" Norén said. The woman had recounted the joy she and her sister felt when they discovered they were both pregnant. The excitement was short-lived, however, as the woman went on to experience the miscarriage. "We told my family. They were all supportive, but I did sort of pull away from them. They would've tried to avoid discussing Eva's baby around me, but I didn't want to overshadow her," the poster wrote. Her withdrawal was a coping mechanism, allowing her time to grieve without being reminded of her loss. For months, the woman distanced herself from family gatherings, unable to face the constant reminder of her loss. However, with her father's birthday approaching, she decided to attend the family dinner, hoping to slowly reintegrate herself into family life. Unfortunately, upon arriving an hour late due to unforeseen delays, she overheard a conversation that shattered her resolve. "I heard them say my name, so I stopped. My mom was saying something like 'Well I guess [the poster]'s not coming' and Eva said 'What did you expect, she probably changed her mind and is just staying home again. Honestly, I'm sorry for her but you would think she was the first woman to ever lose a kid. And it's not even her first kid,'" the woman wrote. Devastated, she immediately informed her husband, and they left the gathering. The incident went on to cause widespread disruption within the family. "Later my brother texted me saying my dad had been really upset about us leaving and brought it up at dinner, which caused a whole fight because mom and Eva realized that I must've heard them talking," the woman added. Despite feeling conflicted, she stood by her decision to leave, prioritizing her emotional well-being. Her post has drawn significant empathy and understanding from Reddit users, many of whom praised her for prioritizing her mental health. "Grief has no time limit. Recovery from a miscarriage sucks because hormones, pain, and suffering emotionally," one viewer said. "The fact that your family thinks you needed to seemingly suck it up and get over it is ridiculous. So no you weren't wrong from taking time in dealing with your loss." Another added: "Therapist here, fourthed lol [laugh out loud]. I see this all the time in clinical practice. Families that are emotionally abusive mess up people they're close to just cause they think their reasoning is sound." "It seems like she was trying her best to deal with the situation and understandably got upset when she overheard her mom and Eva," Norén said. "Having a miscarriage is often a painful experience, and regardless of whether you lose your first pregnancy or your fifth, it can hurt all the same. "It therefore makes complete sense that she felt sad and did not want to see Eva or the rest of the family for a while … You do what you must to protect yourself when you're grieving."If you have a family dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.