Early miscarriage care could prevent 10,000 pregnancy losses a year, study finds

Early miscarriage care after a first loss could prevent about 10,000 pregnancy losses a year in the UK, according to a new study.

The study by Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research and Birmingham women’s hospital involving 406 women found a 4 per cent reduction in the risk of future miscarriage for women on the graded model of care compared with usual care.

Women in England, Wales and Northern Ireland currently become eligible for specialised NHS care for early baby loss only after they have had at least three miscarriages.

Tommy’s has called for women to become eligible after one miscarriage, saying this could reduce the risk of future miscarriages and improve health outcomes for mothers.

Researchers said that would translate to 10,075 fewer miscarriages a year across the UK.

Kath Abrahams, chief executive of Tommy’s, said women were being “left without early access to services that could help prevent future losses and reduce the debilitating feelings of isolation and hopelessness that we know affect so many who experience pregnancy loss”.

She said: “Our pilot study indicates that providing support after a first miscarriage, with escalating care after further losses, is not only effective but achievable without significant additional workload for NHS teams who are already working extremely hard to deliver good care.

“Put simply, it is the right thing to do. We will do all we can to drive that change across the UK so that more women and families are supported after every miscarriage.”

The graded model of miscarriage care proposed by Tommy’s is already available in Scotland, and the charity is calling for it to be introduced across the whole of the UK.

The graded model includes nurse-led support after one miscarriage, with advice on reducing risk factors such as low vitamin D, folic acid intake, alcohol consumption and caffeine use.

Women who received the specialised care were 47 per cent more likely to have a risk factor identified and receive relevant advice to help prevent future miscarriages than women receiving usual care, the study found.

Among women who had experienced two miscarriages and received the specialised care, one in five were found to have thyroid dysfunction or anaemia, both conditions that can affect pregnancy outcomes.

About one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, most often within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The report comes ahead of the long-awaited final findings of the government’s investigation into maternity care in England. Interim findings uncovered a range of failures, including claims that NHS hospitals that caused harm to women and babies during childbirth often resorted to a “cover-up” of their mistakes, falsified medical records and denied bereaved parents answers.

Women’s health minister Gillian Merron said: “Pregnancy and baby loss can have a devastating impact on women and families, who too often feel they have been left without the care and support they need.

“I welcome the findings of this important report, and this will be carefully considered as part of our ongoing work to make sure women get the high-quality, compassionate NHS care they deserve.”