It's devastating and traumatic when a miscarriage happens beyond the first trimester, especially towards the end of the second trimester and into the third trimester. At that stage, in the viewpoint of the parents who tried for and wanted the pregnancy, the fetus is their baby. The parents have been making space in their lives for a new addition, preparing their home for their child, eagerly envisioning a future with their son or daughter, thinking of hopes they have for their child's life. They've been told the chance of miscarrying in the second and third trimester is low. To have a part of their lives taken away before they could even begin making those dreams into realities is very saddening and horrible for the parents.

Miscarriages in the first trimester are not typically as devastating because we know the chance of one occurring is quite high during this part of gestation. It's a fact. Hopeful parents are aware of the statistics. Nonetheless, it can be sad to see a couple who have been trying to conceive for a long period of time and who really want a baby not gain tangible results from their efforts.