“We might lose the baby…How do we tell our daughter?”

Sometimes, pregnancies do not go the way families planned. How can families handle the steps and conversations that arise when this is the case? This week’s Tips On Teens question is from a parent looking for advice on how to navigate their family through a complex, emotional situation:

“I’m 16 weeks pregnant and there are some dangerous signs that the baby is unhealthy and may not make it to term. My husband and I are so scared and confused. My question is about my nine year old daughter who has wanted a baby brother since she could talk. We finally got pregnant after years of trying AND it’s a boy and now it looks like we are going to lose him. I don’t know how to explain this to a nine year old. This is so emotional for my husband and I, but I don’t want this to scar our daughter. How do we tell her and minimize her pain?”