Early care scheme could prevent thousands of miscarriages a year

One in five women in the study had treatable health issues, such as abnormal thyroid function and anaemia, which could affect their chances of a healthy birth.

And while no formal data is collected on the number of miscarriages that happen every year - with many going unreported - they estimate the pilot project could prevent around 10,000 miscarriages a year, if its findings were implemented across the NHS.

As part of the project, women who had suffered one miscarriage were given a one-to-one consultation with a specialist nurse to discuss lifestyle changes - including reducing alcohol consumption and giving up smoking - and using the hormone progesterone, which can help prevent miscarriage.

After a second miscarriage, women were tested for anaemia and abnormal thyroid function, which can affect pregnancy outcomes. They were also offered early scans to reassure them the pregnancy was advancing normally.

Following a third miscarriage, the pathway joins up with what the NHS currently offers - including a referral to a recurrent miscarriage clinic, further blood tests and a pelvic ultrasound.

Professor Arri Coomarasamy, head of miscarriage research at Tommy's, says the three miscarriage wait is an unacceptable anomaly.

"We don't do that with any other medical condition. If somebody has a heart attack, we don't say have your third heart attack and then we will see if there is anything we can do," he says.

He says the findings of the study, if rolled out across the NHS, could also save the NHS money. The pilot suggests the extra costs of staff and training are outweighed by the money saved having fewer women miscarry.

Sally, who is 33, has had two miscarriages and feels let down by the care she was given. She says she's not ready to try for another baby because of her experience.

Living in Gloucester, she doesn't have access to the pilot project but says if she did, she might change her mind.

"Putting these systems in place show women that they are thought about, that one miscarriage is enough to be thought about and to be supported," she says.

In the Women's Health Strategy announcement last week, the government said it was considering "wider adoption" across the NHS in England.

Baroness Merron, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care said: "This will be carefully considered as part of our ongoing work to make sure women get the high-quality, compassionate NHS care they deserve."

NHS Scotland is already making improvements in miscarriage care, including not waiting until a third miscarriage and providing separate rooms in maternity units for women who are going through pregnancy loss.

Northern Ireland and Wales currently follow the same guidelines as England. Researchers on the Birmingham team say they are "hopeful" their model will bring about change.

Kath Abrahams, chief executive of Tommy's, says the pilot would give women an understanding of the care they would be offered.

"Knowing what's going to happen next can be incredibly comforting in a moment when you're in crisis," she says.

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