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Zuckerberg, Chan Hailed For Honesty About Miscarriages

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan’s recent announcement of a fourth pregnancy brought thousands of congratulatory comments to the social network star’s personal page, but the ones which may have the most impact on the couple may be the legions of mothers and fathers who, like Zuckerberg and Chan, have experienced the grief of miscarriages.

CNN Money focused on the couple’s three miscarriages, saying that the way the couple was open about the pain and loss was an encouragement to many of their followers.

A quote from Zuckerberg’s Facebook page was used as an example of their couple’s transparency.

In the quote, Zuckerberg said that “people don’t discuss miscarriages” because it might create distance in their relationships.

Most people don’t discuss miscarriages because you worry your problems will distance you or reflect upon you — as if you’re defective or did something to cause this. So you struggle on your own.

He was quoting as saying that nobody should be distanced because of a miscarriage: “In today’s open and connected world, discussing these issues doesn’t distance us; it brings us together.”

Several comments from Zuckerberg’s thread were featured, including one from a user named Bethany, who said the it “was nice to know I’m not alone.”

My husband and I are going through the same thing. We just had a miscarriage in May … so it’s nice to know I’m not alone.

The couple suffered through a trio of miscarriages before their fourth pregnancy. Zuckerberg said he felt like Chan was far enough in the pregnancy to announce it publicly. Though he didn’t say what week of pregnancy his wife was in, he did say that she was far enough along that the chances of a miscarriage have been drastically reduced.

Fans of the couple aren’t the only ones who’ve recognized their authenticity and honest — the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists was quoted as saying they’re happy that the couple are “raising awareness about how many people are affected by miscarriage.”

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