'Emotional Pain' of Miscarriage Captured in Photo Series

The images feature sonogram photos, mementos and name tags.

ByABC News
April 4, 2016, 4:53 PM
Yudelson snapped pictures using mementos for each child she lost.
Yudelson snapped pictures using mementos for each child she lost.
Courtesy Dianne Yudelson

— -- A California woman has captured the heartbreak of miscarriage in a powerful photo series.

"They say in giving you receive," fine art photographer, Dianne Yudelson, said in a statement to ABC News. "I have found this to be true, especially when you give from the heart. In helping to heal others' emotional pain from pregnancy loss, I have lessened my own."

PHOTO: Yudelson hopes her images can "broaden the conversation and understanding of miscarriage."
Yudelson hopes her images can "broaden the conversation and understanding of miscarriage."

Miscarriage, defined as the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before a fetus is 20 weeks old, is extremely common. The Mayo Clinic estimates that 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage -- but many more occur in early pregnancy, before the woman is aware she is pregnant.

Yudelson, 57, experienced miscarriages of her own between 1993 and 2005. She began curating and photographing her project, "Lost," in late July of 2015.

The black and white images feature ultrasound pictures, tiny infant outfits and the name tags of each child Yudelson lost.

PHOTO: Dianne Yudelson photographed the series "Lost," over a two-week period in July 2015.
Dianne Yudelson photographed the series "Lost," over a two-week period in July 2015.

"For each baby, I saved the sonogram and pregnancy test in an envelope labeled with their name along with their mementos wrapped in tissue," she said. "I arranged these items in a manner I felt told the narrative in a humble and pristine fashion, in direct correlation to their short and pure lives."

PHOTO: For each baby Yudelson saved the sonogram and pregnancy test in an envelope labeled with their name.
For each baby Yudelson saved the sonogram and pregnancy test in an envelope labeled with their name.

Since sharing her photo series with the world, Yudelson said she's received "overwhelmingly positive" feedback.

"Personally, what I value most highly is the feedback from hundreds of women and men," Yudelson said. "The images have not only comforted them, but also, propelled them to speak up and share their experience in an attempt to help another."

PHOTO: Yudelson had experienced 11 miscarriages that took place from 1993 to 2005.
Yudelson had experienced 11 miscarriages that took place from 1993 to 2005.

"What I hope evolves from the creation of my images is a broadening in the conversation and understanding of miscarriage," Yudelson added. "Both physically and emotionally."