The Miscarriage Association publishes a range of leaflets and fact-sheets, almost all of which are available free on this website in PDF format..
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Titles are:
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About The Miscarriage Association Miscarriage can be a very unhappy, frightening and lonely experience. The Miscarriage Association acknowledges the distress associated with pregnancy loss and strives to make a positive difference to those whom it affects. A national charity, The Miscarriage Association was founded in 1982 by a group of people who had experienced miscarriage. We continue today to offer support and information to anyone affected by the loss of a baby in pregnancy, to raise awareness and to promote good practice in medical care. |
| Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and pregnancy loss This leaflet has been written primarily for women who have experienced recurrent miscarriages and have been diagnosed as having Antiphospholipid syndrome. This condition is also known as Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, Hughes’ syndrome or APS and in this leaflet we will usually call it APS. If you have APS but have not experienced miscarriage, please don’t assume that this is bound to happen to you – it isn’t. You may be reading this leaflet because you are about to have investigations following recurrent miscarriage, or simply because you want to know more. If so, please understand that we have written it as if we are talking to someone who has both conditions. Whatever your circumstances, we hope that you find this leaflet helpful. We will begin by talking about Antiphospholipid syndrome and then go on to focus on pregnancy loss. |
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Blighted ovum Both “blighted ovum” and “an embryonic pregnancy” refer to a pregnancy in which the pregnancy sac develops in the womb, but the sac is empty and does not contain a developing baby (also called embryo). The most likely explanation is that the embryo stopped developing at a very early stage and was re-absorbed. “Blighted ovum” literally means an egg cell which has something wrong with it, but this doesn’t really explain what is seen. “Anembryonic pregnancy” means a pregnancy without an embryo. This is a better description of what is seen on the scan and more doctors now use it, although you may hear both terms. |
| Ectopic pregnancy Ectopic Pregnancy is a common, life-threatening condition affecting 1 in 100 pregnancies. It occurs when the fertilised egg implants Most ectopic pregnancies develop in the Fallopian tube, the tube which connects the ovary to the womb. As the pregnancy grows it causes pain and bleeding. If it is not treated quickly enough it can rupture the tube and cause abdominal bleeding, which can lead to maternal collapse and death. |
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Hydatidiform mole You have been diagnosed as having a Hydatidiform Mole, also called a Molar Pregnancy. The loss of your baby is likely to make you feel very sad. In addition this may be the first time you have heard of this condition and so you may also feel shocked, confused and anxious about the future. The purpose of this leaflet is to explain fully what a hydatidiform mole is, and why it is necessary for women who have had a mole to be followed up by the hydatidiform mole follow-up service. All the information in this leaflet has been carefully checked. It is important that you understand exactly what has happened to you, and why your doctors may recommend a certain course of action. The meaning of the medical or scientific terms we have needed to use is given at the end of the leaflet. |
| Investigations following recurrent miscarriage One in one hundred couples trying for a baby experiences recurrent miscarriage, usually defined as three or more miscarriages in a row. This leaflet aims to outline some of the investigations which may be carried out at that time. Although this leaflet is written for both partners, the term "you" will generally be used to mean the female partner. |
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Late miscarriage This leaflet is about miscarriages between 14 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. It does not cover losses which happen at 24 weeks or later, since the law defines these as stillbirths. And it does not cover ‘missed miscarriages’, where the baby dies before 14 weeks. If your baby died before 14 weeks, even if the actual miscarriage happened later, please ask for our leaflet We are sorry that you have had a miscarriage. Sadly, miscarriages before 24 weeks are not officially recorded by the Registrar. This is because 24 weeks gestation is the legal age of viability – the stage at which a baby is thought to stand a good chance of survival if born alive. For some people, hearing their 23-week loss called a miscarriage adds to their distress. |
| Management of Miscarriage: surgical, medical, natural If you’re reading this leaflet, you are probably in the process of dealing with a miscarriage – or perhaps supporting someone else in this situation. You may be facing difficult choices at a difficult and distressing time, or perhaps you’re trying to find out more about what has happened so far. Whatever your circumstances, we hope that you find this leaflet helpful. In some miscarriages the womb empties itself completely. In some cases, though, an ultrasound scan shows that the baby has died or not developed but has not been physically miscarried. This leaflet explains some of the medical terms that are used in this situation and describes the different ways in which the miscarriage process can be managed in these circumstances. |
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Men and miscarriage The loss of a baby through miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy can be one of the most devastating things to happen to a couple. The experience of pregnancy loss can be a very lonely one, especially if you and your partner have not come across it before. This is a topic rarely discussed so you may find both that you know very little about the subject – including how common it is – and that you don’t know anyone else who has been through it themselves. The feelings, reactions and experiences described in this leaflet have been expressed by men who have been affected by miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.1 We hope that you will find enough within these pages to help you to make some sense of the present and face the future with more confidence. |
| Miscarriage and the workplace This leaflet contains information and advice for employers whose staff have been or may be affected by miscarriage. Since about one in every four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, it is quite a common occurrence. Miscarriage affects women – and their partners – in many different ways and there is no one-size-fits-all approach for employers. |
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Pregnancy loss – how you might feel In this leaflet you can read how some women and their partners have felt after losing a baby. Some have miscarried early in pregnancy, others later; some have been through an ectopic or molar pregnancy; and for some there are circumstances that make their loss even harder to bear – fertility problems, for example, or some other difficulty in their lives. |
| Pregnancy loss and infertility Whether you’ve lost a baby after fertility problems, or are having difficulty getting pregnant again after a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, the pain of living with the double blow of pregnancy loss and infertility can seem almost impossible to bear. Both infertility and miscarriage can be devastating experiences, but taken together the impact often feels much greater. You may feel lonely, angry, guilty, helpless, depressed or desperate. You may be experiencing a whole range of emotions at the same time. You may be wondering why this had to happen to you, and feeling as if you are the only person to have to live with these two traumatic life experiences at the same time. It is, however, important to remember that you are not alone and there is support out there if and when you feel you need it. This leaflet is meant for everyone who has experienced infertility and pregnancy loss. Parts of it will be more relevant to you and to your personal experience than others, but we hope that whatever your situation you will be able to find something here which will help you. |
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Preparing for another pregnancy After a miscarriage, many women will blame themselves and their lifestyles for the loss of their baby. Although this feeling is understandable, it is important to know that miscarriage is rarely caused by anything you did or didn’t do. Nevertheless, couples often want to do something positive to try to ensure that their next pregnancy has the best possible chance of success. There is no magical formula for success, but the emotional and physical health of both parents in the months before pregnancy can affect the woman’s ability to become pregnant, and may also affect the health of the baby in the crucial early weeks when the major organs are developing. Making sure that you are both in good health physically and emotionally will help to give your baby the best possible start. It may also help you to feel more confident and relaxed as your pregnancy progresses |
| Someone you know – a leaflet for family and friends When someone loses a baby through miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, it can be one of the most devastating things that has ever happened to her and to her partner. For you as a relative friend or colleague, it can also be difficult, as you try your best to provide the support they both are needing. This leaflet aims to help you recognise what to say and do in order to be a source of strength and comfort for the couple at a time when they may need you the most. Although everyone's experience will be different and individual, the following thoughts are commonly expressed ones. You can be of help. This leaflet seeks to make it easier for you to do so in the face of a grief that is often difficult to comprehend. |
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Talking to children about pregnancy loss The purpose of this leaflet is to help you decide the best way for you to handle pregnancy loss with children1. This may be as a parent, a relative, a neighbour, a teacher, or other professional. It has been prepared with the help of members of The Miscarriage Association. What is right for one person is not necessarily right for another. We are all different in the way we react to crisis and loss, in how much we show our feelings and want or need to talk about significant things. Families, communities and cultures also vary in ideas about pregnancy and in beliefs about what to do when a pregnancy ends before it should. Children are different too: regardless of their age and stage of development, some are more enquiring and sensitive than others. |
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Goodbye baby: an e-book for children M.A. member Gillian Griffiths and illustrator and designer Lindsay MacLeod have created an e-book for children who may be affected by miscarriage in the family. Goodbye Baby is based on conversations between Gillian and her son Cameron, who was the inspiration for the book. You may also find it helpful to read our leaflet Talking to Children about Pregnancy Loss. |
| We are sorry that you have had a miscarriage A miscarriage can be a distressing experience. Apart from the emotional upset of losing a baby, your body has been changing in pregnancy and now has to return to normal. Changes inside your body can also affect the way you are feeling. This leaflet has been written with the help of members of The Miscarriage Association who have been through miscarriage themselves. We hope that it will help by sharing some common feelings and by answering some of your questions. |
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| We are sorry that you have had a miscarriage This leaflet has been prepared specially for a wide range of D/deaf people. We use clear plain English on the left hand page. There is more detail on the right hand page. |
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We are sorry that you have had a miscarriage |
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| and also available in a bi-lingual English and: | |
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When the trying stops For some women and their partners, there will sadly come a time when they make the decision to stop their efforts to have a baby. While some may be trying to complete their family, for others this means stopping their attempts to have their first child. There may be many reasons for making this choice: repeated losses; fertility problems; advancing maternal age along with its associated health problems; social, financial or relationship issues. There appears to be a widely accepted belief that when we wish to have a child it will happen without too much difficulty. There is often a biological urge to have a family. When this does not happen, then the feelings associated with remaining childless, or in not being able to complete a family, can often be overwhelming. If you are thinking of stopping trying, especially if it means remaining childless, this leaflet is written for you. |
| Why did it happen to us? Causes, tests & treatments This leaflet explains what is currently known about the possible causes of miscarriage, and what tests and treatments may be available. Tests and investigations carried out and the treatment offered are likely to vary from one hospital to another, and will depend to some extent on the interest and expertise of the consultant responsible for your care. |
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You may also want to look at our suggested reading list for other titles on pregnancy loss and read selected items from our members’ newsletter.