Nadia Bartel has revealed she lost a pregnancy last year
The 40-year-old who is dating former semi-professional AFL player-turned-model Peter Dugmore, took to TikTok to share about the “tough” experience.
“I had a pregnancy loss – it’s what they call a missed miscarriage – in July last year,” she said.
Watch the video above
“It was just the early stages of my pregnancy, so I was seven weeks pregnant. I had to go in and have a D&C operation, and then it took a really long time for me to get my period back, and I – even though it was early stages – I just found the whole thing so tough.”
A dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure is a surgical procedure used to remove tissue from inside the uterus.
“I think when you are pregnant, even if it’s early days, you imagine your life with the baby that you are going to have, and you just get so attached to your pregnancy and your baby,” she said.
“And when something like that happens, it’s really, really disheartening.”
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What helped Bartel, she said, was connecting with other women going through the same thing, adding that she wanted to do the same for followers.
“I’m sharing this because what I found gave me so much hope and made me feel better was talking to other people about it, learning more from other people who maybe were a similar age to me, and they had also gotten pregnant or maybe they experienced a miscarriage and then they went on to become pregnant,” she said.
“I just found it helped me a lot, and I also noticed the more people that I spoke to about having a miscarriage, so many people had gone through it themselves, where I feel like back when I was pregnant, you know, 10 years ago, with Aston, it was something that people would never talk about.”
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Bartel shares sons, Aston, 10, and Henley, seven, with her ex-husband, former AFL player Jimmy Bartel. They married in 2014 and divorced in 2021.
The business owner began dating Dugmore two years before they made their public debut at the 2024 Australian Open.
“I see so many people talk about it after they’ve had success, but I think it’s interesting to also share stories and talk about when you’re going through it,” she said.
The influencer says she is now researching IVF, as well as how to improve egg quality, and her chances of getting a healthy embryo at her age.
“I’m just finding it so helpful to connect with people, and right now I’ve been going through a lot with IVF and failed transfers and egg collections, and it is also really tough,” she said.
“My heart goes out to anyone that is going through IVF or has experienced pregnancy loss because it is so, so tough. I’m here for you and sending all the good vibes,” she concluded.
Fans thanked her for her vulnerability.
“Thank you for sharing this! I started IVF at 41 too and it’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” said one fan.
“Sending love & strength to you. Talking about this will hopefully help you and many of your followers,” another added.
“Thank you for sharing. I also love that people are talking about this and at this age,” one commenter shared.
“I’m 40 at the end of the year and really want a sibling for our daughter, but not enough people share about having a baby near or over the 40 mark.
One fan said, “So tough to talk about. Proud of you.”
The Red Nose Grief and Loss Support Line is available 24/7 for anyone affected by the loss of a pregnancy, stillbirth or death of a baby or child on 1300 308 307.
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