How men are impacted by miscarriage, as Mike Tindall opens up about baby loss

Mike Tindall has spoken out about the struggle he faced when he and Zara Tindall lost a pregnancy in 2016.

In a new interview in The Times, Mike, 44, said: "It's a terrible journey for mothers; they look at themselves like it's their fault."

Zara's miscarriage took place in December 2016, when she was five months pregnant. In 2018, she revealed she had a second miscarriage "very early on", before she became pregnant with their second daughter, Lena.

Mike said that it brought him comfort that the couple already had daughter Mia, who was two years old at the time. "To get home from the hospital and Mia is there with a smile on her face, you put all your love into her," he said. "If we'd have gone home to an empty house, that would have been a completely different scenario."

As around one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage during the first three months, it can be a very traumatic experience for the woman impacted. As the carrier of the child, she can feel the full emotional and physical effects, and this ordeal can sometimes lead to longer-term mental health struggles.

But although they may not undergo the physical aspects of pregnancy loss, many partners will of course also experience feelings of grief.

Read more: MP emotional during paid miscarriage leave plea: ‘Forgive me if I take a minute' (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)

Last year, a study by Imperial College London found that one in 12 partners (8%) experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) three months after their partner suffers a miscarriage, with one in 25 continuing to suffer from PTSD up to nine months on.

Jane Brewin, chief executive of the baby loss charity Tommy’s, said: "Baby loss can have a deep and lasting impact on both parents, and this [Imperial] study gives a voice to many who have suffered in silence, highlighting the profound consequences that can have for their mental health and wellbeing.

"The message is clear; partners are vulnerable to the same psychological problems as mothers and specialist support must be made available to either or both bereaved parents."

Mike and Zara aren't the only royals to speak openly about miscarriage. Back in 2020, the New York Times posted an op-ed by Meghan Markle where she revealed she and Prince Harry had suffered a miscarriage in the summer, and shared the impact the loss had on them both.

Read more: Why miscarriages occur, the mental health impact and the support available (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)

While miscarriages may have a profound effect on women, what about the impact that miscarriage has on men?

"The immediate feeling was one of helplessness," Ryan, 36, from London tells Yahoo UK. Ryan and his wife found out they had miscarried early in 2020.

Read more: Charlotte Dawson shares devastating miscarriage: 'I'm heartbroken beyond words' (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)

"I remember when the doctor told us the news, [I was] having this internal conversation with myself, whilst time kind of froze, of whether or not to put my hand on my wife’s shoulder.

"It seems ridiculous now in what would normally be such a natural and normal act of comforting someone but I just had this realisation of how helpless the gesture was and how nothing I could do as a man could help in that exact situation. I’ll never forget that."

Ryan says the simple act of asking his wife how she is, and vice-versa, helped the couple process their grief.

Watch: Woman who nearly died after miscarriage welcomes 'miracle' baby after 20 years

How to support your partner after miscarriage

Counselling Directory member Philip Karahassan says couples should seek an understanding of what each other wants. "There is no right or wrong way to grieve," he adds.

"But be understanding of each other's needs and discuss what would be a fitting way to be there for each other, give each other strength and the emotional space to mark the shared experience together."

Ryan adds that talking to friends about the miscarriage has helped him too.

"About 18 months ago I became involved in launching a mental health charity for men," he explains. "In that time I’ve learnt more about male mental health and the advantages of speaking openly with your mates.

"I’m sure my mental health has been affected in some way but I feel good now and I 100% put that down to having a close circle of pals who are open to conversations."

Karahassan says that it’s important for men not to prescribe to gender roles while processing grief.

"I hear the phrase ‘staying strong’ a lot from men whose partner has had a miscarriage," Karahassan explains.

"A man may wish to keep calm and carry on, work on problem-solving and attempt to fix the issue by not talking about it so as to try and help the wife to forget or not get upset.

"This stops the father from connecting to his own grief, whilst also alienating himself from his partner who wants to connect over the pain of a miscarriage. This results in two people unable to fully connect over a shared life experience."

Though Ryan says he has coped "okay" following the miscarriage he believes there should be greater support for partners who might be more adversely affected.

"I can imagine men who aren’t as lucky to have the support network I do or perhaps those who suffer with their mental health could really be affected by such an event and it doesn’t seem right us men are seemingly an afterthought," he says.

Brewin says that it’s "vital" to recognise that partners experience the same loss and grief when it comes to miscarriage.

She adds: "Miscarriage can be incredibly lonely, and that isolation is magnified for those who feel they have to hide their heartbreak.

"Partners often feel huge pressure to be strong and supportive, holding it all together for the mother and wider family. Attitudes to miscarriage and grief must change so that anyone who wants to open up or ask for help feels able to do so."