Chemical Pregnancy: what to expect & how to cope
Chemical Pregnancy: What to Expect & How to Cope

August 10, 2021

What to expect from a chemical pregnancy

Please note: This article has not yet been reviewed by a medical professional and is not intended to be taken as medical advice. Always refer to go to your medical provider for your medical care. This is intended to be peer-to-peer support only.

A chemical pregnancy is a non-medical term to talk about a pregnancy that has not shown any indication of the pregnancy on ultrasound, such as a sac, fetal pole, fetus, or heartbeat. Some providers may downplay chemical pregnancies as not as significant of a loss. Just because you never saw your baby, it does not mean your baby and your pregnancy were not real. And your loss is just as real, just as significant, as any pregnancy loss.

Physically, your experience will be just like a first-trimester miscarriage, though you won’t be able to see or bury your baby, or have them tested for gender. For some, the pregnancy ends quite early, and besides knowing they were pregnant, the physical act of loss is not much different than the For some, this is especially difficult in grieving while not having the physical evidence of your baby’s presence via an ultrasound photo, gender determination, or the baby’s body to bury.

“I stood there, watching the test develop. Please please let it be darker. We can’t lose a third. The test was negative. My stomach dropped and I crumpled to the floor and sobbed. What was wrong with me?”

Sarah

About the Author

Rachel Lewis

Rachel Lewis is a foster, adoptive and birth mom. After a 5-year battle with secondary infertility and the losses of five babies during pregnancy, she now has three children in her arms and a foster son in her heart.

As the founder of the Facebook support group Brave Mamas, she is passionate about helping others through their grief. She is a contributor to Still Standing Magazine, Pregnancy After Loss Support, and Filter Free Parents. Rachel holds bachelor’s degrees in Theology, Bible, and Speech Communications.

When she’s not chauffeuring her kids around, you can find her shopping at Trader Joes for the best gluten-free treats, drinking iced coffee, or writing about grief and healing on her blog at The Lewis Note.

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