A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks. There are potentially many reasons why a miscarriage may happen, although the cause is not usually identified. It’s important to know that the majority of miscarriages cannot be prevented, but there are some things you can do to reduce risk of a miscarriage such as avoid smoking, avoid drinking alcohol and using drugs while pregnant.
A miscarriage can be an emotionally and physically exhausting experience and feelings of guilt, shock and anger usually go alongside, so it’s important you get support and advice during this time.
If you have experienced a miscarriage, we understand that it is a very distressing experience, therefore it’s important that women and their partners have all the relevant information to make informed choices about care. Staff will also provide information for you to share with your employer and provide contact details for suppport from organisations such as SANDS and the Miscarriage Association. Your local Maternity Department will also support you and your partner.