Olympian-turned-doctor Jana Pittman has spoken candidly about suffering four miscarriages as a major new national campaign, Miscarriage Matters, launches across Australia to encourage open conversations around pregnancy loss and end decades of silence on the issue.
Despite miscarriage being one of the most common pregnancy complications — affecting an estimated 285 Australian families every single day, or roughly one in four confirmed pregnancies — many parents continue to grieve privately, without adequate support or understanding from those around them.
Jana Pittman's personal journey through pregnancy loss
Pittman, who has competed at the highest levels of sport before retraining as a doctor, said the issue is one that sits close to her heart both personally and professionally.
"I went through four miscarriages before my beautiful six babies were born and obviously I now work as a doctor and this space just really touches my heart and I think it's something we really need to talk more about," she said.
She described how the emotional weight of her first miscarriage placed enormous strain on her relationship at the time. "In my first miscarriage, it really affected my relationship. I'm going to be honest, we actually end up being divorced through that chapter and I think it's because we didn't talk about it," Pittman said.
Even when she tried to open up, she found those around her were often lost for words. "Even when I did start those conversations, people didn't know what to say back," she added.
What the Miscarriage Matters campaign aims to do
The Miscarriage Matters campaign, now going nationwide and backed by medical professionals, is designed to close the gap between the frequency of pregnancy loss and the level of support available to those experiencing it. Its goals are practical as well as emotional — providing guidance on what to say and what not to say to someone who has miscarried, explaining how to access time off work, and debunking persistent myths about what causes miscarriage.
Women's health specialist Professor Meredith Temple-Smith said false beliefs — such as the idea that lifting heavy objects or eating spicy food can cause a miscarriage — place an unfair burden of guilt on women at an already devastating time.
"None of these are real and makes a woman particularly feel like she's to blame. Offering support very early, I feel will be of great benefit," Professor Temple-Smith said.
Breaking a long-held taboo around pregnancy loss
Miscarriage has long been treated as a private, even shameful subject. Many couples choose not to share news of a pregnancy until after the first trimester specifically out of fear that they may lose it — a fear that, for many, becomes reality. The cultural silence that surrounds pregnancy loss can leave grieving parents feeling isolated at one of the most painful moments of their lives.
The Miscarriage Matters campaign hopes to shift that dynamic, making it easier for people to seek support and access accurate information when they need it most. For Pittman, the existence of such resources is a significant step forward.
"I think it's really wonderful that we have these measures that we can turn to," she said.
For Australians seeking broader support around mental health services available to parents, resources continue to grow across the country. More national health and wellbeing coverage is available on this site.
