The Miscarriage Association have launched a set of special greeting cards to mark pregnancy loss.

The cards, which have all been handwritten, hope to ease the pain of those experiencing pregnancy loss, or help friends or family who want to reach out. Each of the cards' messages was approved by a team of women and men who have experience of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or molar pregnancy. One of the cards reads: "This is totally ****. So here's a hug in an envelope. A folded squeeze, from me to you." Another says: "There's no good card for this. I'm sorry for your loss." Others read: "I wish this wasn't happening to you. I don't know what to say. But I promise I'm here for you," and "This is the worst. But I've got your back. And your front. And everything in between." The cards cost £3.50 each (about €4.00) and all of the proceeds go directly towards the Miscarriage Association. The charity hope that the cards will help to break the taboo around miscarriage as a life event that affects so many people. "Pregnancy loss can be a very distressing and lonely experience," national director Ruth Bender Atik said. "Sometimes even close family and friends don’t know what to say, say the wrong thing or say nothing at all."

"Shockingly, greetings card retailers stock a card for almost every important life event, except one. These cards recognise miscarriage, and give words to those friends and loved ones who can’t find them. “The new cards have been launched to fill that gap. They may even become a treasured memento, the acknowledgement of the briefest of lives.”

Natasha Necati, a woman who has experienced eight miscarriages, said that she would have really appreciated receiving a similar card during her pregnancy losses. She said:

“When I had my miscarriages, people meant to be kind, but I did have comments like ‘Sorry for your loss, but at least you know you can get pregnant’ and ‘Don’t worry, you’re still young,’ whereas others just didn’t say anything at all. “I would have loved to receive cards like these. I especially like the one that says I wish this wasn’t happening to you. I don’t know what to say. But I promise I am here for you.  It says it all.”

You can check out the Miscarriage Association's collection of cards here.