'Complete nightmare': Julia Louis-Dreyfus reveals she suffered a pregnancy loss at 28

Julia Louis-Dreyfus has revealed she suffered a pregnancy loss when she was 28.

In an emotional episode of her podcast Wiser Than Me, the Seinfeld actress recalled the "devastating" time in her life that was not only emotionally challenging, but also left her bedridden.

"This whole thing was just a complete nightmare," Louis-Dreyfus told listeners.

The mum of two spoke about what followed her hospital stay, and how her mum supported her through the tough time.

READ MORE: Parents asked to leave cafe so couple could 'enjoy' their outing

Louis-Dreyfus revealed she fell pregnant quite easily, saying, "I got pregnant for the first time and I was crazy happy. I felt very fertile. Very womanly."

However, quite late in the pregnancy, she and husband Brad Hall received some devastating news.

"[We] discovered that this little fetus was not going to live," she said.

While the couple tried to emotionally process the loss, they were hit with another blow.

"It got worse, because I developed an infection that landed me in the hospital," the Emmy winner said.

Louis-Dreyfus stayed in hospital a few days, and when she was discharged she had to spend time recuperating at home.

READ MORE: 'Moment' that made AFLW star 'snap' at kids' playground

"I wasn't allowed to get up out of bed yet. I was, as they say, bedridden," she said.

In the episode, in which Louis-Dreyfus interviews 75-year-old food writer Ruth Reichl, she explained it was her mum's care and cooking that got her through the devastating time.

"My mum flew out to be with me. She made this incredible cosy chili in a cast iron skillet with corn bread on top in the pan," she explained.

"And she and my husband Brad set up a table at the foot of the bed, and the smell of that cornbread and the chili was so wonderful. It just filled the room and the whole house and my heart, really."

The actress recalled feeling so comforted by that food and so clearly remembering the smell, even though she said she wasn't able to enjoy eating it.

READ MORE: Hidden danger lurking in 'red line' on child's foot

"I couldn't eat, wasn't yet allowed to have solid food. But it didn't matter. It was the best meal ever. The making of it was so comforting it was so embracing," she told listeners.

"This is one of my greatest memories around food, even though it sort of has an odd kicker."

Louis-Dreyfus and Hall have been married for over 35 years and share two sons – Henry, 30, and Charlie, 25.

Charlie has embarked on an acting career himself, known for his role in The Sex Lives of College Girls, and Henry is a singer-songwriter.

If you or someone you know has suffered pregnancy or infant loss please contact: Pink Elephants Support Network - pinkelephants.org.au, SANDS - sands.org.au, Red Nose Australia - rednose.org.au