Miscarriage charities: We need better care and more counselling

Charities backing campaigns calling for better miscarriage care say bereavement midwives for couples affected by miscarriage could ease Scotland’s secret sorrow. They also want better signposting to counselling services to ensure couples can find support. Shona Robison MSP and Nadia El-nakla, wife of Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, j oined forces to l aunch Changing Miscarriage Care, a campaign calling for best practice in care and treatment to be adopted across NHS Scotland and to help raise awareness of the physical and emotional toll of miscarriage. O rg a n i s a t i o n s helping people through the heartbreaking experience of baby loss say it’s time psychological support became more of a focus, not just for women, but their partners too. Tommy’s charity CEO Jane Brewin said: “For too long, women have not received the psychological support they need following a miscarriage, which can have profound consequences for their mental health and wellbeing.

“It’s vital to recognise that partners experience the same loss. Partners often feel huge pressure to be strong and supportive, holding it all together for the mother and wider family.”

Ruth Bender- Atik, national director of the Miscarriage Association, said: “It’s important to consider the information and support needs of partners at all stages of the miscarriage experience – when news is being delivered, and decisions are having to be made.”

Julie Morrison, who experienced stillbirth in 2003, set up Baby Loss Retreat to try to help couples cope after loss.

“It doesn’t matter whether a child is lost to miscarriage two weeks into the pregnancy, it still can have a major impact on people’s lives,” said Julie.

Ms Robison, who earlier this month spoke of her own miscarriage grief, said: “Effective support for those dealing with a loss through miscarriage is essential in helping both work through that loss together.”