Bethany Hulme-Teague, a mother from Bath, has become a passionate advocate for improved miscarriage care following her deeply distressing experiences with pregnancy loss. Supporting Tommy’s charity’s new Graded Model of Miscarriage Care, she believes it is a crucial step toward providing more compassionate, timely support to women from their very first miscarriage.
Tommy’s research indicates that this new model, which ensures follow-up care right from the initial miscarriage, could help prevent over 10,000 pregnancy losses annually. Bethany, 30, shared her journey through two miscarriages that left her feeling profoundly let down by inadequate healthcare.
After 18 months of trying, Bethany’s joy at her first positive pregnancy test was immense, fulfilling her long-held dream of motherhood. When she conceived again soon after her daughter turned two, the shock of her first loss was quickly compounded by her second miscarriage.
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During her second experience, Bethany went to A&E due to alarming bleeding but found the environment ill-suited to her needs. Long waits for blood test results in a busy emergency room left her feeling isolated and unsupported.
“The waiting room was crowded, yet I felt utterly alone bleeding and losing my baby,” she recalled. Later, a scan at an Early Pregnancy Unit confirmed the pregnancy was no longer viable. However, Bethany was dismayed by the detached manner of the medical staff and the lack of emotional support. She was told no further care would be offered unless she experienced three miscarriages, an approach she found deeply disheartening.
Bethany stresses that miscarriage care must extend beyond just the physical aspects, highlighting the profound mental health impact of loss. Providing early, compassionate support not only benefits mothers but also positively influences the wellbeing of their existing and future children.
Currently, NHS protocols typically limit investigation and support to those who have suffered three or more miscarriages, leaving many earlier losses unaddressed. Tommy’s Graded Model proposes a shift to earlier intervention, which their pilot study demonstrated to be effective in identifying risk factors and reducing subsequent miscarriages.
Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive of Tommy’s, underscores the urgent need for reform: “Waiting until the third miscarriage to offer support leaves women and families vulnerable to isolation and unmanaged health risks. Our study shows that care after the first miscarriage, escalated as needed, can be integrated into NHS services without overburdening staff.”
Scotland has already adopted this approach, embedding it into their miscarriage pathway. Tommy’s urges policymakers across the rest of the UK to follow suit. The recent Government commitment to reviewing this pilot study is a positive step, but further action is needed to ensure all women receive the care they deserve from their first pregnancy loss.
Bethany’s story and Tommy’s evidence together make a compelling case for change—a healthcare system that recognizes miscarriage as a significant loss deserving empathy, support, and timely intervention for every woman affected.