Alec Baldwin’s wife Hilaria has thanked fans for their support after posting an emotional message on social media to say she feared she was “experiencing a miscarriage”.

The Spanish yoga teacher, who has four children with the Hollywood star, shared the post on Instagram, saying she wanted to “be a part of the effort to normalise miscarriage and remove the stigma from it”.

Her message said she was waiting for news but the chances are “very small that this is a viable pregnancy”.

Alongside a picture showing her holding her stomach, the 35-year-old said she had promised herself that if she got pregnant again she would “share the news with you guys pretty early, even if that means suffering a public loss”.

“And I don’t want to keep this from you, just because it isn’t as positive and shiny as the rest,” she said.

“I think it’s important to show the truth… because my job is to help people by being real and open.

“Furthermore, I have no shame or embarrassment with this experience. I want to be a part of the effort to normalise miscarriage and remove the stigma from it.”

Baldwin said she was in the first trimester of her pregnancy and that she found the “secrecy” surrounding this stage “exhausting”.

“I’m nauseous, tired, my body is changing. And I have to pretend that everything is just fine – and it truly isn’t. I don’t want to have to pretend anymore. I hope you understand,” she said.

She said her baby did not have a strong heartbeat and “isn’t growing very much”.

She finished the post by pleading with fans to “be kind”.

Instagram users flooded the comments section with messages of support, praising her for her “bravery”.

Actress Jessica Simpson, who became a mother for the third time last month, was among them, posting a love heart emoji.

Later, Baldwin posted a message of thanks for the supportive messages, saying: “This is why I wanted to share.”