Now that Bethenny Frankel has launched her first talk show (in a few markets here in the US) she has the platform to discuss issues that are important to her. This week, Bethenny shares with her audience the news that she suffered a miscarriage earlier this year. As you may know, Bethenny and husband Jason Hoppy gave birth to a baby daughter they named Bryn. During the most recent season of the reality TV series Bethenny Ever After, the couple hinted that they might be ready for a second child. Apparently, they did, indeed, become pregnant again but very sadly, Bethenny lost the baby at 8 weeks.
In July 2011, Bethenny Frankel told PEOPLE she had “anxiety” about her age when it came to trying for more children. In February, she admitted her fears came true when at eight weeks pregnant she had a miscarriage. “It can be different for everybody,” Frankel says of the heartbreaking event on Tuesday’s episode of her talk show, Bethenny, which featured guest Dr. Roshini Raj. “For me, it’s that I’m older. I’m 41. That was ringing in my head and that it’s high-risk. But, I’m lucky to have my first child.” Frankel was especially disappointed about losing the baby because she “accidentally found out” from her doctor that she would have had another daughter. “For me it was thinking about Bryn running around with another girl,” she says. Frankel can now relate to other ladies who have been through the same thing. “I’ve honestly had women that I’ve been friends with in the past [tell me] they had a miscarriage,” she explains. “And I kind of didn’t really understand, and I’d say, ‘I’m so sorry that’s terrible.’ But not until you really go through it, do you understand what it means. In your head, it’s a person that could never be. You blame yourself as a woman.” Frankel says she got through the traumatic situation with the help of female peers. “It was really just something that women were so supportive [about] and it was great to kind of go through that with other women,” she says. “It’s not really about me and my experience it’s just kind of about being able to talk about it and women knowing that it’s so common and it’s not their fault.”
Aww, this is extremely sad news. I don’t remember it being reported before but I may have missed it. No matter, the fact that Bethenny is opening up about the tragedy now will very likely help other people who are dealing with the same situation. I absolutely believe her when she says that it is impossible for anyone to truly understand unless they’ve been thru the same thing. And altho I’ve not seen this episode of her talk show, I have no doubt that Bethenny is as open and honest as possible even when sharing such a tragic part of her life. I don’t know if Bethenny will be a successful talk show in the long run but I’m glad it’s on the air now. Bethenny‘s personal story has the likelihood of helping others, which means some good can come from her loss.
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Bethenny is using this for sympathy sadly miscarriages are more common than live births are over 60% of pregnancies on an annual basis end in a miscarriage. some women that had them decades ago have still never spoken about the experience publically yet this famewhore does within months thinking the public care. academy award winning screen legend Joanne Woodward for example miscarried during her honeymoon in 1958 and has still never spoken about the event publically but will in her autobiography
Courtney, I could’t disagree more. Many women don’t talk about having a miscarriage because it’s incredibly hard to talk about. But it is very reassuring and helpful (after having had one myself) to have it spoken about in public. It’s still a very taboo topic, and it’s hard to know when it’s OK/acceptable/appropriate to talk about it, who to tell, etc.
Yes many women have them – that’s why you don’t announce pregnancy until after the first trimester is over. That doesn’t make it any less important to talk about or any less difficult when it happens to you. I think it’s great that she talked about it. It helps all of the women (like me) out there who have gone through such a heartbreaking, life-changing experience to know that there are other women who have been there, and know what we’re going through.
I think it’s great that she spoke about it. Do you thin Jay-Z and Beyonce were looking for sympathy or attention when like Jay-Z mentioned that Beyonce miscarried in his song?
Also, why is talking about it in an autobiography any different? That’s also sharing it with the public. So your argument isn’t really sound at all.
And one more thing: who cares if she’s looking for sympathy. Miscarrying is a horrible experience, and talking about it – and having support from those around you – hopefully makes it a little less horrible.
You can’t see it, but I’m giving you a standing ovation from my living room.
Courtney, I don’t think it’s fair to judge someone’s desire to talk about a difficult time in their life as a sympathy ploy. Just because miscarriages are extremely common doesn’t mean they aren’t extremely difficult to deal with- it’s a loss of hopes and potential excitement and dreams, and it can be extremely painful both physically and emotionally- I hope you never have to endure one. As with any personal situation, Bethenny (and any other woman) can deal with it in any way she feels is best for her- she isn’t hurting anyone by talking about it. Just like it is entirely fine for women to not talk about it, it’s fine for them to talk about it as well, and it can be really comforting to break that taboo and be open about a horrible situation that so many women go through silently.
Although you are entitled to your opinion, I would hope that next time you don’t judge someone who is making a choice to handle their own personal business in their own personal way- especially when openness and honesty can foster support in a time that can be very lonely for a lot of women.
What attention could she possibly be seeking with publicly talking about a miscarriage? She has a talk show, she can talk about whatever she wants to, but she chooses to speak openly about a very taboo subject. Nothing brings down a room like a dead baby story, I cannot believe for one second that someone who is already well in the public eye would use a miscarriage for attention.
I agree with you totally, and coming out and saying something so personal in front of everyone is extremely hard. To ALL THE GIRLS READING THIS, miscarriage is an extremely hard process for women who intend to have the child. I’ve recently had one and it is not only PAINFUL, but you go through such depression and question yourself as a woman. It’s truly heartbreaking, especially when you have a connection.
Did you ever ask yourself why they don’t speak about it? I wish to god someone had been there for me in that time. It IS a taboo subject, when people write about having one they don’t detail that it is painful, you go through depression, anxiety, weight loss..the list goes on. I think its wonderful someone is finally talking about it because for those of us without insight its a scary experience.
I do remember hearing about the miscarriage a few months ago….
I can definitely relate, have had a couple of miscarriages in my life (luckily have three great kids)…and while I didn’t feel devastated….I can see the age situation and feeling desperate when it comes to the “deadline” aspect. I know this is a forum where she can show other women that she understands.
I had a miscarriage in 2006 at 8 weeks, and even though I know now that it was for the best, it was very hard to go through. It was physically very painful, and resulted in multiple doctors visits. I had just really gotten used to the idea that I was going to have a baby, and then all of a sudden I wasn’t. It gave the guy I was with a way out of the relationship, and I am very thankful that I didn’t end up tied to him for the rest of my life with a child, even though I would have loved my baby. I felt like there was something wrong with me, or that I did something wrong, and of course I know now that was not the case, but I didn’t know then how many women around me had had miscarriages. All of a sudden, women were telling me how they had had one, two, even three in their lives. My own grandmother had two before she carried my uncle to term, and since they were only planning on having three children, if those two had lived, my mother never would have been born. It’s strange how things work out, even if it is a struggle to go through them at the time.
Exactly 5 years later, to the day of my miscarriage, I had my beautiful son. I’m very happily married and the timing was right for us. I know it is cheesy to say that some things happen for a reason, but ever since that situation I believe it.
I don’t think it’s bad for her to talk about… The more information that gets out there about how common they are and how many women suffer through them will hopefully help someone feel less alone if it happens to them.
I went to a taping of her talk show today and they actually showed a clip from this show. It’s a sad situation no matter if you think she’s talking about it for publicity or not.
Side note: I’m not sure how I feel about her as a talk show host. While she is chatty and says fun, inappropriate things, it all feels fairly forced. Hoping she’ll get more comfortable with time.
Inthe case of most tlak shows, it takes a while for the host to get comfortable and find their niche. Ellen is a prime example. She seemed so stiff and uncomfortable at first but now is at home with her audience. Bethenny is just trying too hard and needs to relax and let her own quirky sense of humor come out. That is what drew people to her in the first place.Throw out the scrippted format and let her spontenaity come out. As for the miscarriage topic, I found it theraputic to let out the pent up emotion of losing a baby by talking to friends who shared in my loss. It is no different than losing any family member and then never speaking about them again. That would be like burying all the memories when you bury them.