The study, led by Dr Áine Aventin, Senior Lecturer from the School of Nursing & Midwifery at Queen’s, reveals the healthcare experiences and emotional needs of women who were treated for a miscarriage in NI.

Defined as a loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks, it is estimated that miscarriage effects between 10-20% of pregnancies in NI annually. An estimated 2.6% of women experience recurrent pregnancy loss, defined as two or more losses.

Published today in BMC Women’s Health, the research suggests these women live with devastating memories, anticipated loss and disenfranchised grief.

Commenting on the research, Dr Áine Aventin said:

“The results indicate that women who experience two or more miscarriages report significant adverse impacts on psychological distress and wellbeing, and experience repeated loss as devastating, isolating and guilt provoking.

“So, to support women’s reproductive health and rights, acknowledgement of the grief of pregnancy loss, and compassionate approaches to care during miscarriage and subsequent pregnancies are important in reducing adverse impacts on wellbeing.”

Research shows that women who experience miscarriage are 1.5 times more likely to report mental health difficulties. For some women in this study, their miscarriages were followed by mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms that made them “not wanting to leave the house” and “crying all the time.”

Dr Martin Robinson, Lecturer in Psychological Trauma and Mental Health from the School of Psychology at Queen’s added:

“These results highlight significant feelings of loss, isolation, guilt and devastation reported by women who experience recurrent pregnancy loss. By considering these emotional experiences rather than formal mental health diagnoses, we hope to better understand early signs of distress and find potentially valuable ways to offer support before emotional challenges become more severe.

“It is important that we support all parents’ wellbeing after miscarriages, and these findings highlight the need to acknowledge the potential risk for distress associated with recurrent pregnancy loss.”

Speaking about the distress they experienced on hearing the news of another loss, several women described feeling “on tenterhooks” when pregnant and feeling as if the losses were their fault.

Women described their subsequent pregnancies as “an awful time” during which stress was managed with detachment and worsened for some by the expectation that having “got the leaflet the last time”, they should be equipped to deal with recurrent loss.

While some women reported painful memories and devastating healthcare experiences, others spoke of the compassionate healthcare professionals who “couldn’t do enough” and supported them through their losses.

The study surveyed over 800 women in NI who experienced miscarriage in the last five years.

Dr Áine Aventin

Senior Lecturer from the School of Nursing & Midwifery

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