In the wake of a miscarriage it's natural to want to mark the pregnancy in some way; several of my friends have gone to beautiful, poignant lengths to do just that following experiences of baby loss.
So I was struck by this profound tattoo which a friend shared on social media today. It was posted by an Imgur user who wrote:
I had a miscarriage two weeks ago... And I got this to remember the baby that wasn't meant to be.
The image has been viewed more than 53,000 times and over 300 people have commented, many sharing their own experiences of miscarriage and baby loss.
What any of us thinks of this tattoo is irrelevant, of course, since its meaning and impact is only of true importance to the woman who shared the image, but I found it strikingly beautiful and moving. I don't have any tattoos and don't think I've ever uttered these words before but this is one tattoo I deeply admire. If the poster's sharing of it helps even a handful of women to open up about their experiences and feel less alone following a miscarriage, then it's surely a deeply valuable thing to have done.
I've chosen to share this here in case it helps inspire someone else who has lost a baby to pay tribute to that life but if you choose to comment, either here or on our Facebook page, please do so sensitively.
And if you've been affected by miscarriage, you can access information and support from the Miscarriage Association. You can find them here.
It's a deeply personal & touching way to remember the loss. I like it.
both beautiful and bave