h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.h2g2.com/A507773

I'd like to recommend this entry on Miscarriage. It covers the basic terminology, causes, symptoms and then focuses in particular on the process of emotional healing and how to facilitate it.
I noticed that there was already a very nice article on stillbirth (cheers to AGB!). Since they are related topics, perhaps a link is in order?
I worried it might be a bit too long... any comments are greatly appreciated as always
cheers-
Ariel

~flies off with great speed~

An excellent entry, one which I can now cross off my "to be written" list.
After I had a miscarriage, I had to have a D & C to remove my womb lining, as this did not expel with the baby. I feel this should be added...
Thank you for the entry, Ariel.
This entry is worthy of its own inclusion, not as a link to my stillbirth one.

I did notice a few typos but I will leave that up to others who have not suffered this to correct...

*big hugs* Angel...
Thank you for your comments... Your suggestion is excellent, as one of the problems I think women and their partners face during this trying time is not knowing exactly what is happening or is going to happen to them. Thanks for pointing that out to me. I wasn't sure wether to include it or not, but you have convinced me. And I will hunt for those lurking typos!
cheers-
Ari

Angel.. I just had a thought.
I hope I didn't trod on your toes here.. I know sometimes writing about a difficult episode in ones life can be a great catharsis (I confess that's part of why I wrote this. The other reasons were I wanted to be able to help people who might be going through a similar experience.) I would certainly be open to a collaboration on the topic if you are interested?
Perhaps you could write the section I omitted? Let me know if that interests you at all; I'm amenable either way!
Ari

Hi,

Another great article about an emotive and often difficult subject.
I was nearly a dad once, so I understand a little about the feeling of loss after a miscarriage.

Some sites you may want to visit:

[URL removed by moderator]

Hope this is of some use

- Adam

Hi-
Thank you, Adam. I'm sorry to hear of your loss and I really appreciate the useful links youu've provided. I think they might make a useful addition to the article as part of the "Resources" section. I'll be sure to acknoweldge you for them!
cheers-
Ariel

You don't need to acknowledge me for them

You certainly didn't "tread on my toes", Ariel!
{and my name's GB...}
Your reason for writing this was the same as I had for my stillbirth one. And I think I gave my all to that... I would not have done this subject the justice that you have.
Keep up the good work!
I have other projects on the go...
toWonky...

Thanks GB (oops! sorry for the error there!) and Wonky!
I'll make some revisions this evening and then see what you think.
I really appreciate your very helpful comments on all fronts!
cheers-
Ari
*big bear hugs* all around

I added the section on treatment and a few links (though not all of them turned out quite right). Now I'm afraid it really is too long
Let me know what you think.
thanks for all the help!
cheers-
Ariel

First of all, it's NOT too long.
Better too much info than not enough, in a case like this.
Your link to hysterectomy doesn't work.
Try this:
Hysterectomy

To link toWonky:
Dr.Wonky Mungbeam

and to link to the links ~outside~:
*******
where the ******* is the name of the site.
Hope that helps, Ariel!

Thanks GB... the links all work now.
Any other comments are always appreciated!
I guess now we wait..........
cheers-
Ariel (the giver of random hugs)

Well-thought out entry. It's a little emotional, but not too much - you handled it very gently, I thought. It's an interesting read, and has enough medical information to fill it out.

I did spot two typos:
- In one instance, instead of 'now' the word 'know' appears.
- "This procedure is quite fast is an absolute necessity to stop the bleeding that occurs in incomplete miscarriages." Probably needs to read: "This procedure is quite fast *and* is an absolute necessity to stop the bleeding that occurs in incomplete miscarriages."

Other than the two typos, I think it's ready to go into the edited Guide as is. Good job!

You are welcome, Ariel.
The "hygenia" link is wrong, you used the LINK H2G2 I think, it comes up as www.h2g2.www.hygenia...
Do it how you did the others, the others are fine.
And {this is my fault, as I spelled it wrong firstly} Dr.Wonky Mungbean not Mungbeam. Sorry!
Other than that the links all work.
You wrote this entry how I wanted to write the stillbirth one, but I couldn't do it.
Well done Ariel.
right back.

I support to get this Entry into the Edited Guide, maybe crosslinked with AGB's Entry on stillbirth.

It's very precisely written, offers valuable information without hiding behind a too scientific wording.

Well done!

Jeremy FS JBB

What a wonderful entry, Ariel; it made me cry. I lost a baby at seven weeks gestation, and your entry was spot on. Perhaps something could be said about the overall duration of the grieving process? I'm not sure what is usual, but I know I still cried about it whenever I really thought about it for at least 5 years and two babies after.

I found another typo:
'tetragenic' should be 'teratogenic'

Should 'set backs' be 'setbacks'? (not sure on that one)

Well done.

, or

I still disagree that this should be officially linked to my stillbirth entry. Anyone typing "miscarriage" in the search facility will find this entry, and Ariel has a link to my stillbirth entry ~if~ they wish to read it, they then can. This entry rightly states the difference between miscarriage and stillbirth. Sad, mad or bad, I don't think anything else needs to be added about the grieving process. We both know that it is different for everybody, even more children later. I don't think anyone ever gets over the loss of a child, be it a fetus, a neo-natal death, or a cot death... All are something you would not wish on your worst enemy. Ariel was wondering if the entry was too long but I think it's fine as it is. You know Saint Titania has a "light a candle for" page, if you would like to go post there, I'll get you the link. http://www.h2g2.com/F57090?thread=85665&latest=1

That's true, GB. It IS different for everyone. And thanks for the link.

Is alcohol and tobacco not one of the linked factors too? I guess these could be under "harmful drugs", or (more likely?) I could be misinformed.

An excellent entry - you get across the reality of dealing with this, and I suspect that a lot of people will get a good deal of comfort and support from your words.

I would say... carefully... that you tend to be a little.... forceful? You say things like "and as part of your life, you will carry the love for your child with you forever." - which immediately made me think "no I won't, I'm a heartless SOB, and in any case I'll likely die alone and unloved". {I was in something of a black mood at the time...}

Try to, in some of these places, remove references to "you", and replace them with "the parents" or whatever - as you have done elsewhere. Many of those who will read your entry will not have had a miscarriage, remember - and your entry should ideally help them too - for example by letting them realise that saying certain things will be hurtful.

In other places you may wish to put parts in blockquotes, and quote them as "one researcher's experience was that:" - so the section at the start of 'anger and guilt' could be transformed in such a way. Doing this will allow you to fully express the emotions that you (or a friend, or whoever) where going through - and I think this will allow you to do so without losing the entries factual and slightly detatched overall tone.

The reading material and the links are particularly helpful, I think - these are ideal in this sort of entry to tell people where they can turn to for help. The bit at the start is excellent as well - it's always good in this situation, I find, to know that you're not alone - that there are others who have got through this ok, and (hence) so can I.

third para of "treatment" - it's "whether".

I feel you should footnote cervix to help us ignorant males, who don't know what one is...

I feel you should link to the stillbirth entry - perhaps adding "similar to stillbirth" in the "causes and risk factors" section. The two are clearly related, and certain idiots like myself had thought that stillbirth was a type of miscarriage, so might be searching for the wrong thing. Can't hurt, anyway.