Big Brother star Krystal Forscutt has opened up on Instagram about her experience of pregnancy loss.
The 30-year-old, who appeared on the reality television series in 2006, last night posted a photograph taken before doctors broke the devastating news.
“This is a shot taken a few months ago,” she wrote. “It was the day before my 12 week scan, the day before I found out that this little Angel’s heart beat was no longer.”
Forscutt, who has a two-year-old son with husband Neil Hipwell, shared that it was the second miscarriage she'd experienced in seven months.
In the moving post, Forscutt wrote that she hoped her decision to share her story publicly would encourage women to support one another through pregnancy loss and to think twice before asking questions about when someone is planning to start or expand their family.
"Although most people mean well, I have found that when facing those baby questions it can leave you feeling more defeated, anxious and less accomplished, as though you have failed to do something that you were apparently born to do," she wrote.
Forscutt noted that such questions only make it more likely for the woman to self-blame, something she experienced intensely after the loss of her little one.
"For months I scrutinised every single thing I did, sifting through those 12 weeks with a fine tooth comb believing it was something I did wrong," she wrote.
"After going through this, I have now realised that it's not some box that you tick that determines how many children you will have, it's an emotional, unpredictable journey and it's completely out of your control."
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To other women who "know what it was to imagine their little one's face, and their tiny hands and feet", she wrote the following words:
"Let's start asking less questions and just be that shoulder to cry on for one another. You will never forget that precious little angel but it does get easier in time and it certainly reminds you to count the blessings that you do have."
Our thoughts are with Krystal during this difficult time.
For 24-hour crisis support counselling, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.