Women 'Dehumanised and Diminished' by Inadequate Miscarriage Care, Report Reveals
Women who experience miscarriage are being exposed to additional harm and distress due to insufficient follow-up care within the NHS, according to a damning new report. The research, conducted by the Miscarriage Association, involved more than 1,000 individuals in the United Kingdom who have been impacted by pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.
Widespread Failures in Post-Miscarriage Support
The findings indicate that nearly two-thirds of women felt their follow-up care was not adequate following a miscarriage. Furthermore, over four in ten women who desired treatment for mental health issues after losing their baby did not receive any support. Many described feeling dismissed and traumatised by their experiences, with one patient characterising the process as "dehumanising."
While slightly more than half of respondents rated their care as good or excellent, more than a quarter described it as poor or very poor. The report highlights that many women were sent home with minimal or conflicting guidance, and access to essential services like early pregnancy units and scans was inconsistent across different regions.
Insensitive Treatment and Lack of Dignity
The investigation uncovered numerous accounts of insensitive language from healthcare professionals. One woman reported being told her baby "had been put in the incinerator with the rest of the medical waste" while she was recovering from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. The report also identified a "recurring theme was a lack of dignity," with some women left without access to basic necessities such as sanitary pads.
Vicki Robinson, Chief Executive of the Miscarriage Association, stated: "Too many women and their partners are being failed by a system that is inconsistent, unequal and too often dictated by chance or circumstance. People told us they felt unheard and diminished, caught between gaps in healthcare, uncertainty at work, and a wider silence that leaves miscarriage poorly understood and acknowledged."
Political and Celebrity Backing for Change
The report has garnered support from MPs and campaigners, including television and radio presenter Myleene Klass, who received an MBE for her miscarriage campaigning. Labour MP Sarah Owen, Chairwoman of the Women and Equalities Committee and a Miscarriage Association ambassador, commented: "Losing a pregnancy at any stage makes a woman physically and mentally vulnerable. It's shocking to hear their stories of being treated with such insensitivity by trained healthcare providers, adding harm to what is already such a traumatic experience."
Klass emphasised: "Pregnancy loss is not a niche issue, it affects thousands each year. Yet many still struggle to access the care and understanding they deserve. This research by the Miscarriage Association is an important step in holding the system to account and pushing for meaningful change."
Workplace Challenges and Systemic Recommendations
The research also examined experiences of miscarriage in professional settings. Participants reported that "awareness and formal policies around baby loss remain limited, and employees' rights around pregnancy are poorly understood." Many cited "fear of stigma or career impact" as barriers to discussing their loss openly.
The report proposes several key recommendations, including making follow-up care routine for every miscarriage, extending opening hours at early pregnancy units to improve access, providing more bereavement support, and urging workplaces to implement bereavement leave policies.
Robinson added: "Change must be systemic. Clear, consistent aftercare following pregnancy loss should be available to all. Until pregnancy loss is properly acknowledged, too many people will continue to face miscarriage without the care, support and recognition they need and deserve."
Government Response and Ongoing Initiatives
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care described losing a baby as "heartbreaking" and labelled the report's findings "unacceptable." The spokesperson noted: "We are working to improve miscarriage care to ensure women get the support they need, and we have already extended the reach of baby loss certificates to provide the recognition that can mean so much to affected families. More widely, we are driving improvements to maternity services by investing over £130 million to improve maternity units."
The Miscarriage Association continues to offer free specialist training for healthcare professionals to build on examples of compassionate care, emphasising that the issue is not about blaming individuals but addressing systemic failures.
