It’s hard to know how many pregnancies end in miscarriage, since some occur before the woman knows she’s pregnant and may be mistaken for a period. What we do know is that it’s fairly common, especially during the first couple of months after conception. Often there’s no way to tell why a miscarriage occurred, and no reason to think it will repeat.

None of that is very comforting, though, if you’re the one who’s had the miscarriage.

If you or someone you know has had a miscarriage, remember that there’s no right or wrong way to feel or to deal with this tough experience. You might feel relief, confusion, guilt, fear, or profound grief. You might experience many feelings in succession or even all at once. Give yourself permission to feel what you feel. Ask your doctor when you can try again (if that’s what you want to do) and find out, too, about support groups that can help you maneuver through this difficult time.