Karel Marquez shares grief of losing baby no. 3 to miscarriage

Less than a month after sharing the news that she and husband Sean Fariñas are expecting baby no. 3, actress Karel Marquez took to social media to announce that she suffered a miscarriage five to six weeks into the pregnancy.

"Our dream of having a baby this year was short lived as I had chemical pregnancies, an early miscarriage at 5-6 weeks; every mother's nightmare. I didn't think it would happen to me, but it did, for the first time in my life, back to back," Karel shared in a public Facebook post on Wednesday.

The actress said that she grieved the loss quietly for a month or two, keeping the news from her closest friends.

"Could you imagine what my husband was going through also? He wanted this one all his life too. It was hard, because everyone I'd see would always ask about my pregnancy," she explained.

She added, "I wasn't ready to explain to each and every single person about what happened to us. Nasanay na nga ako for the past months na oo nalang ng oo just to finish the convo. My husband would just say "thank you" or something and go over to the next topic. It was a tough time."

The fluctuating hormones also affected her mental health and said she tried to find comfort in the fact that, according to doctors, she was still fertile and could try for a "rainbow baby."

"My rainbow baby (a rainbow baby is a baby after you experience a miscarriage) will come. Not now, but one day. Maybe next year? Next next year? And the next after that? Who knows. For now, let me be my best self, respect my body and mind, focus on the family we've built, go back to work full time, and still keep on [inspiring] others," she said with hope.

Reaching out to women who are also struggling with a similar loss, Karel shared, "Do know that these painful situations happen, and it's more common than you think. I want you to know, to whoever suffered a painful miscarriage like me... 'You're not alone.'"

"It can be painful physically, emotionally, psychologically and more, especially if you wanted to have a child so bad. It was one of the most difficult times for me but I decided not to dwell on it anymore, and that I should just think positive. Greater things are coming.

"I didn't owe an explanation now, but I think I owe this to those who are waiting and expecting, and to those who were excited too, like you reading this, or to my friends, I can say that I am not ashamed to share my story and experience, no matter how painful (Hello friends, ako pa ba? Hehe!), that yes I experienced an unfortunate event (marami rami na ring pinagdaanan) but if you're going through this now, YOU will be okay and better things are coming your way, all in God's plan, all in God's time. Titibay tayo dito," the actress declared.

Karel encouraged everyone who is struggling to find the strength to keep going and to think of the rainbow that comes after a storm. — AT/LA/KVD, GMA News