After completing this unit you will:
All health professionals working with women experiencing pregnancy loss may find the experience challenging and upsetting. Try to be aware of your own needs and make sure that there is support for you and your colleagues.
Click to see the challenges that these health professionals mention.
It’s difficult knowing how to phrase words, having confidence in my own knowledge to be able to sufficiently answer questions, and not feeling I have the experience to be able to clearly explain what the woman should expect: physical symptoms, emotional features.
Click on the areas below to see how different health professionals may be affected. Whatever your role, you will find it helpful to look at all these areas.
Working in A&E can be hugely rewarding but there’s no denying that it can also be very stressful.
Women who attend because of suspected or obvious pregnancy loss are unlikely to be viewed as emergencies. By the time they reach you, their levels of anxiety, distress and possibly pain may be very high.
You might encounter some difficult emotions not only from the woman but also from anyone accompanying her.
Scanning in early pregnancy can be like a roller-coaster – giving good news to one happy woman and then potentially devastating news to the next. Dealing with those emotional extremes can be very stressful.
Caring for women with pregnancy loss can be stressful.
They are likely to be anxious, distressed, grieving or even angry. They may express wants and needs that you just can’t meet. What’s more, you are their central port of call, even if they also have hospital care.
However good that care is, it is brief. It’s the GP who is going to be looking after them after their loss and in the longer term.
Working in the ambulance service can he hugely rewarding but it can also be stressful, especially when you are treating people with life-threatening illness or injuries.
The extra factor in dealing with women experiencing a miscarriage is that you have an additional invisible patient, one whose life you are very unlikely to be able to save or prolong. But that may not be the woman’s perspective.
Her levels of anxiety and distress may be very high and you might encounter some difficult emotions not only from her but also from anyone accompanying her.
Being aware of the potential difficulties can help you to be more prepared for some of the emotional challenges facing you as a health professional. These might include your own experiences too, especially if you have been through pregnancy loss yourself or are currently pregnant.
Use the links below to find out more about how you can prepare yourself to manage some of these challenges in a variety of situations.
As a health professional caring for women experiencing a miscarriage, you may feel as if you are walking on egg shells for fear of saying the wrong thing. Remember that this is a positive feeling. It shows that you care and that you really want to get it right for the women you are caring for.
Thank you to the lady who took her time to explain everything on the screen to me and acknowledged my loss.
Your peers may have similar concerns and might also benefit from talking about these issues with you. Good sources of support could be:
* These sessions offer a safe online discussion and learning space to share experiences and reflect on challenging situations in order to support your practice, while also considering your needs. Contact helen@miscarriageassociation.org.uk for details.
You might also consider:
Working in this setting can be draining. It’s important to recognise the signs if or when it’s too much and to think about how to then find ways to help yourself. Professional organisations often offer support, such as the BMA – https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/your-wellbeing/wellbeing-support-services/sources-of-support-for-your-wellbeing.
After my experiences I did a peer teaching session with my colleagues with an emphasis on communication. We concluded that there is no ideal one size fits all explanation or way of expressing condolences in these situations – even a blanket expression of how sorry you are or referring to the baby can be wrong!…
Visit the resources and references page for quick access to all the films, good practice guides and links referenced during the e-learning module.