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Lisa Varey experienced two heartbreaking miscarriages before realizing the difficult reality she faced. In England, NHS specialist support for miscarriage is typically only available after a woman has had three losses. Knowing this, Lisa found herself telling her husband they needed to become pregnant again—and miscarry—quickly to qualify for the help they desperately needed. She recalls their stunned reaction: “I can’t believe I’m actually saying this out loud.”
After her second miscarriage, Lisa was invited to participate in a new pilot program at Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital aimed at reducing miscarriage rates by providing earlier intervention. Through comprehensive testing, she was prescribed progesterone to support her pregnancy and daily aspirin to boost the chances of a healthy birth. Now in her second trimester, Lisa describes the emotional difference the program has made: “There’s so much support for pregnant women, but it didn’t always feel like there was any support for women who were no longer pregnant. We’re having to go through that journey of just feeling very sad.”
Emily, aged 42 and also from Birmingham, shared a similar story of loss and frustration. After struggling with infertility and going through IVF treatments, two miscarriages left her feeling her body had failed her. Joining the Birmingham project brought new hope through early testing and treatment, including aspirin and increased folic acid doses. Emily explains how this shifted her mindset: “Knowing there were things that could make a difference. That gives you some hope to hang on to.”
The pilot study, involving 406 women with previous miscarriages, compared standard NHS care with a new approach that began support after just one miscarriage, progressively increasing care with each subsequent loss. The results showed a modest decrease in miscarriage rates for the study group, as well as improved support for women who did miscarry again. Crucially, one in five participants had treatable health issues like thyroid problems or anaemia affecting pregnancy outcomes. Experts believe that if this model were implemented more broadly, it could prevent approximately 10,000 miscarriages annually across the NHS.
Professor Arri Coomarasamy from Tommy’s charity highlights the flaw in current guidelines, likening waiting for three miscarriages to seeking treatment only after multiple heart attacks: “We don’t do that with any other medical condition.” The study shows that earlier intervention not only improves care but could also be cost-effective by reducing the number of miscarriages. Meanwhile, women like Sally, who have suffered miscarriages but live outside areas offering such support, emphasize the importance of feeling acknowledged and cared for from the very first loss.
Recent government announcements indicate consideration of wider adoption of this enhanced miscarriage care model in England. Baroness Merron, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care, affirmed the intention to ensure women receive compassionate, high-quality care. Already, NHS Scotland has begun updating miscarriage services to remove the three-loss waiting period and to provide more sensitive facilities for those experiencing pregnancy loss. Similarly, Northern Ireland and Wales maintain current guidelines but may follow suit depending on ongoing research.
Kath Abrahams, CEO of Tommy’s, underscores how clarity about care pathways can offer crucial comfort during difficult times: “Knowing what’s going to happen next can be incredibly comforting in a moment when you’re in crisis.” This promising pilot holds the potential to significantly change miscarriage care, offering hope to many who endure the pain of pregnancy loss
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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