How Chrissy Teigen Keeps Her Late Son's Memory Alive in Her Family
More than one million pregnancies end in miscarriage or loss every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And while the topic is incredibly difficult, talking about it is the first step in letting parents know they're not alone. One celebrity who has been open about her experience with loss is model and television personality Chrissy Teigen.
Teigen and her husband, John Legend, lost their son—a boy named Jack—in September 2020. Jack would have been the couple's third child, younger brother to Luna and Miles.
Teigen shared the intimate and heartbreaking experience on social media, documenting their experience so that others in similar situations could see a public figure openly discuss a topic often only spoken of in whispers. One photo of Teigen in tears moments after losing Jack struck controversy on the internet—but Teigen stands by her decision to share it.
"I absolutely knew I needed to share this story," Teigen wrote in a Medium post. "I lived it, I chose to do it, and more than anything, these photos aren't for anyone but the people who have lived this or are curious enough to wonder what something like this is like. These photos are only for the people who need them."
Teigen revealed this week how she and her family keep Jack's memory alive, telling Scary Mommy the family carries Jack's ashes with them on vacation.
'I absolutely knew I needed to share this story...These photos are only for the people who need them.'
"Whether we go on a vacation or something, [Miles and Luna] always say, 'Don't forget baby Jack.' And then I have to pack him up. And then we get to where we're going, they're like, 'Oh my gosh, he must be thirsty.' This might sound crazy to people, but they'll put a little glass of water next to his little box of ashes. And they really love being a part of it," Teigen said.
After the loss of Jack, Teigen got sober and dove into therapy. She says she's in a better place now than she was before her pregnancy loss.
"I feel like I'm a better mom, I'm a better wife, and I'm a better friend. I love being a part of the world," she said.
Teigen shared a little about the transformative experience in the intro to her new cookbook, "Cravings, All Together."
"Without a doubt, I have just lived through a period more transformative than I could have ever imagined. We lived through personal trauma, with the loss of our unborn baby, Jack," she wrote. "And that turned a very private journey into personal love and acceptance of life and all of its wild, horrific, beautiful ups and downs."
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, a time to communicate sensitively about a difficult reality for millions of parents worldwide. Read more about the necessity of self-care after pregnancy loss here.
