Influencer Keira Rumble applauds Meghan Markle for miscarriage story

Influencer Keira Rumble understands the courage it takes for high-profile women like Meghan Markle and Chrissy Teigen to share their stories of pregnancy loss.

Sydney influencer Keira Rumble has applauded celebrities like Meghan Markle and Chrissy Teigen for going public with their heartbreaking stories of miscarriage as it helps eliminate the stigma.

Rumble told Confidential that she knows the pain of loss all too well after suffering six miscarriages in recent years.

“Pregnancy loss holds a very special place in my heart, having lost six pregnancies over the past few years,” said Rumble, CEO of Krumbled Foods.

“Seeing women like Meghan and Chrissy speak up about their own journey of pregnancy loss and stillbirth is extremely important for us to listen to as a society.

Silence is no way to grieve says Keira Rumble, who has suffered six miscarriages.

Influencer Keira Rumble says its important women share their stories of pregnancy loss.

“While absolutely heartbreaking and shattering it is to read, having such prominent women shed light onto these topics is both important and courageous. One in four women experience a pregnancy loss, yet there is so much stigma and shame that we are conditioned with around the topic. Suffering in silence is no way to grieve and knowing that you are not alone does wonders for women in their recovery after loss and fertility journeys.”

This week, the Duchess of Sussex, 39, shared her miscarriage heartache in a brave piece for The New York Times after losing her unborn baby in July.

“After changing his diaper, I felt a sharp cramp. I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right,” Markle wrote of her one-year-old son Archie who she shares with Prince Harry.

Meghan Markle and Harry, Duke of Sussex, with their son, Archie in May, 2019. Markle has revealed she suffered a miscarriage in Jul. Picture: AFP

“I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.”

Last month, Teigen, 34, shared her own story of loss in a soul-baring essay posted on the website Medium.

She and her musician husband John Legend mourned the loss of their son Jack, who was stillborn and delivered at 20 weeks.

“We are shocked and in the kind of deep pain you only hear about, the kind of pain we’ve never felt before,” Teigen wrote on Twitter.

Pink Elephants CEO Samantha Payne, whose non-profit organisation provides support for anyone impacted by early pregnancy loss, said 1 in 3 women in Australia will suffer a miscarriage at some point so speaking publicly helps raise awareness.

“It’s not always easy to speak up, but we’re never going to smash the stigma that is driven by old fashioned opinions and based on a lack of evidence, if we’re not brave enough to have these conversations and use our voices to be heard,” said Payne.

“One in four pregnancies will end before 20 weeks, that means ONE in THREE women will experience a miscarriage, so it’s really more common than many realise but because we don’t talk about it, those who suffer often suffer in silence.

Chrissy Teigen shared a series of images after losing her baby. Picture: Instagram

“We also know that one in six women will experience long-term post-traumatic stress following miscarriage. Women who are grieving alone are at further risk of long-term mental health problems, which is why miscarriage support is everybody’s responsibility.

“Pink Elephants has had five times more downloads of our online resources this year compared with last year, a 60 per cent increase in people joining our online communities and almost 30 per cent increase in requests for peer support counselling over the phone. If anybody would like to find out more or donate, they can go to pinkelephants.org.au”

Rumble, 30, once suffered an ectopic pregnancy which was left undiagnosed for nearly four weeks, resulting in emergency surgery, her fallopian tube rupturing due to late diagnosis and significant ongoing PTSD and chronic pain.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend holding their stillborn son Jack. Picture: Instagram

Throughout her journey, she has been diagnosed with endometriosis and recently underwent surgery which led to another blow.

Rumble was diagnosed with a genetic blood clotting issue called Factor V Leiden, which can be linked to recurrent loss.

She is currently working with an IVF specialist and a haematologist.

“Anyone that has been on an infertility journey will know how soul-crushing it can be,” she said.

“Sadly, one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, yet it is rarely spoken about, and hearing this statistic breaks my heart to know how many women are silently suffering.

“I try to remind myself daily that this is part of my journey that I need to go on and to just trust the process, but every day is different for me – some days are great, other days I struggle. “I’m thankful I have my business to throw myself into and to focus on that. Having a support team really helps with the healing process.”