Website launched to assist those affected by early miscarriage

A new website has been launched to support those affected by early miscarriages

While over 50,000 Irish women give birth every year, it is estimated that a further 14,000 women miscarry spontaneously every year, according to statistics.  Furthermore, pregnancy loss, in the form of early or late miscarriage, or stillbirth, occurs in 20-25% of all pregnancies, or 1 in every 4.

Cork Miscarriage – created by the Pregnancy Loss Research Group and INFANT Research Centre at University College Cork (UCC) – provides medically accurate, sensitive and user-friendly information for those who experience a first-trimester miscarriage.

Related: ‘I’m really devastated’: Hilaria Baldwin shares her miscarriage heartbreak on Instagram

Lack of support

It was purpose-built by UCC graduates and staff after research groups found a lack of support for women who suffer loss in their early pregnancy.

“Given the extensive impact of pregnancy loss, it is imperative to understand the underlying causes. Understanding reasons why pregnancy loss happens helps parents recover, but may also identify recurrence risks, and even identifying a sporadic cause has merit as it can provide reassurance for a future pregnancy,” The Pregnancy Loss Research Group explained.

“Few studies have addressed the lived experience of pregnancy loss and there is little qualitative research showing how bereaved parents understand and make sense of their loss.”

Helpful resources 

This website has been created as a resource for anyone who needs information and support about early miscarriage and has been designed in a user-friendly way so that those who need help or more assistance, have the resources available to them.

Today #CUMH we officially launch our new miscarriage website https://t.co/AJiuKnytQ3

Well done to the team @PregnancyLossIE supported by @infantcentre – for making this happen! pic.twitter.com/qFt6WDzgcZ

— PregnancyLossUCC (@PregnancyLossIE) March 2, 2020

The services also provide written information and contact details to women, partners and families in relation to pregnancy loss as well as providing contact details of support services available within the hospital setting and externally.

Related: ‘In total we had 14 miscarriages’: Rosanna Davison on her emotional journey to surrogacy

“The clinical pregnancy loss team at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) encompasses a multidisciplinary team of doctors, midwives, nurses, administrative staff, social workers and chaplains working collaboratively with the common goal – to provide support and information to parents bereaved by early and late pregnancy loss, promote their emotional, psychological, spiritual and physical well-being, as well as improving professional practice and facilitating research in this area.”

While the website is specific to the services operating in Cork University Maternity Hospital, the information is relevant to parents and maternity services nationally and internationally.

For more information, visit: corkmiscarriage.com