Miscarriage is defined as the spontaneous loss of pregnancy during the first 24 weeks of gestation. It is the most common complication of pregnancy with up to 1 in 4-5 women experiencing a miscarriage in their lifetime, with most occurring in the first three months of pregnancy. However, the Lancet reported that data analysis on 4.6 million pregnancies in seven countries suggest the miscarriage risk for black women is 43% higher than for white women.
The cause of miscarriage is often unclear, which can make the situation more distressing. A recent study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that women experience high levels of post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety after early pregnancy loss. Whilst distress declines over time, it remains at clinically significant levels at 9 months.
As nurses, midwives and nursing associates, we play a key role in ensuring women experiencing pregnancy loss feel heard and valued. Kindness, understanding, and the use of sensitive language are just some of the ways that healthcare professionals can help people cope with their experience. It is equally important to be aware of how pregnancy loss can affect women in different ways, giving equal consideration to emotional, as well as their physical needs to aid recovery. With the Covid pandemic greatly impacting on access to hospital services, women’s concerns about future conceptions, it is essential we raise awareness of the information and support available, especially among ethnic minorities.
The Women’s Health Forum, in collaboration with the Association of Early Pregnancy Units is undertaking a portfolio of work on early pregnancy care, and ways of developing the Clinical Nurse Specialist role in this field: available at: Womens health: Current Work | Royal College of Nursing.
The cause of miscarriage is often unclear, which can make the situation more distressing. A recent study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that women experience high levels of post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety after early pregnancy loss. Whilst distress declines over time, it remains at clinically significant levels at 9 months.
As nurses, midwives and nursing associates, we play a key role in ensuring women experiencing pregnancy loss feel heard and valued. Kindness, understanding, and the use of sensitive language are just some of the ways that healthcare professionals can help people cope with their experience. It is equally important to be aware of how pregnancy loss can affect women in different ways, giving equal consideration to emotional, as well as their physical needs to aid recovery. With the Covid pandemic greatly impacting on access to hospital services, women’s concerns about future conceptions, it is essential we raise awareness of the information and support available, especially among ethnic minorities.
Further information
To learn more about how to support those experiencing pregnancy loss, access the Miscarriage Association’s free e-learning resource: Caring for women experiencing pregnancy loss: a free e-learning resource - The Miscarriage Association.The Women’s Health Forum, in collaboration with the Association of Early Pregnancy Units is undertaking a portfolio of work on early pregnancy care, and ways of developing the Clinical Nurse Specialist role in this field: available at: Womens health: Current Work | Royal College of Nursing.
Share on X (formerly Twitter)
Share on Facebook
