Better support needed for women and families experiencing miscarriage

Women experiencing pregnancy loss are being told to “just get pregnant again” as it’s revealed little support is being offered to the 150,000 Australians who lose their babies each year.

Women and families experiencing the trauma of miscarriage need more support, Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney says, as she develops a plan to tackle the most common pregnancy complication.

Better education of medical professionals, improved bereavement services and data collection on early pregnancy loss are all being considered as part of the desperately needed response.

Australia does not keep track of the number of miscarriages – the loss of a baby before 20 weeks – that occur.

Studies estimate that one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, affecting between 100,000 to 150,000 women a year.

But Ms Kearney, a former nurse, suspects there are a lot more because pregnancy is often not discussed before 12 weeks and there is still stigma and shame around a loss.

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“They’ve lost this baby. It’s quite traumatic and traumatising and, women, they really don’t get any support because they are just told … buck up and bear it,” she said.

“Just get pregnant again, you’ll be right.

“It is something that we need to look at individually and something that … I intend to take up as an issue, policy-wise with the government.

“There is a lot we can do, probably starting with data … and bereavement support specifically and educating our health professionals.”

Ms Kearney said there were mental health consequences for women who had multiple miscarriages, adding they had a much greater risk of developing postnatal depression and anxiety if they had a viable pregnancy.

Frankston mother Melissa King says she has never recovered from the pain of losing her baby in a 2011 miscarriage, adding she felt alone and was not offered any support services.

Ms King founded Miscarriage Information Support Service a year later, a not-for-profit provides resources and care packages to families and their loved ones nationwide following an early pregnancy loss.

She said the service has helped thousands of people across the country over the past 12 years.

Melissa King (centre) at memorial for parents who have lost children due to miscarriages. Picture: Norm Oorloff

“Miscarriage is a real loss – it’s taking away the parent’s future hopes and dreams for their unborn baby,” she said.

“I had my bassinet and my cot and it was just absolutely devastating.”

Ms King is calling for a nationalised approach to miscarriage information, better data and funding for support services.

She said there should be better community education, as well as separate spaces in hospitals for people who have experienced a miscarriage, with many put in maternity wards.

Victorians affected by the loss of a baby through miscarriage met on Sunday (5/5) to mark National Miscarriage Awareness Day – held a week before Mother’s Day to acknowledge the emotional time.

SANDS 24/7 bereavement support: 1300 308 307