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NHS Miscarriage Care: 'Not Fair' After Three Losses
29 Apr
Summary
- Many women feel unsupported after their first miscarriage.
- New research suggests care after one loss could prevent thousands.
- A pilot program showed graded care reduced future miscarriage risks.
A woman from Eastbourne is highlighting concerns about current NHS guidelines that only provide support after a third miscarriage, stating the policy is "just not fair." She experienced two miscarriages and felt unsupported after the first, despite having a healthy child in between losses. This policy means she would need to endure two more losses before receiving comprehensive care.
Research from the charity Tommy's suggests that over 10,000 pregnancy losses in the UK could be avoided each year if women received follow-up care after just one miscarriage. The charity advocates for a "Graded Model of Miscarriage Care" to identify risk factors earlier.
A pilot of this model at Birmingham Women's Hospital, which ran from November 2023 to February 2024, involved 203 women. It indicated that graded care not only reduced the risk of subsequent miscarriages but also improved the identification of underlying medical conditions.
This approach involves consultations, progesterone treatment, blood tests, and reassurance scans after one or two miscarriages, escalating to specialist clinics after three. The Department of Health and Social Care stated this research will be considered in their ongoing efforts to improve women's healthcare.
