Miscarriage

The laydees over on Mumsnet have been having a huge discussion about miscarriage, from which it emerged that there is a real and urgent need for change in the way the NHS deals with parents unlucky enough to suffer one.

What’s also clear is that some fairly straightforward changes would make a huge difference. Mumsnet has, in consultation with its users (375 000 of them each month), drawn up a list of 10 key recommendations which they feel would make miscarriage less traumatic, and which they've sent off to UK health ministers. Their suggestions include not treating women who have miscarried on ante or post natal wards, something which I personally find completely incredible in its lack of sensitivity (the idea that this happens, I mean, not the suggestion. I can't make sense today - sorry). You can read the whole list of recommendations here.

 

Comments

[Theo]

I couldn't agree more with the need for some form of follow-up. last september my nuchal scan showed the baby had died at least 10 days earlier. the next day I had an ERPC. no-one offered follow-up or counseling of any sort. I subsequently lost a daughter at 15 weeks gestation and couldn't move for people trying to help me - but only me - my husband wasn't included in the offers of support and counseling. the difference to me was 3 weeks of gestation and labour and delivery versus a surgical procedure but the difference to the hospital/PCT was exponential. Yes the later loss was worse, but not a thousand times worse. it was about a thousand times rarer - hence they could afford to make all those offers of help. But I needed the help almost as much with the 1st "ordinary" first trimester loss. An "early" (before 13 weeks) miscarriage is still a loss of a baby that existed for the couple, often after weeks of sickness and other pregnancy symptoms.