Pregnancy Loss Research Group

Pregnancy Loss Research Group

We lead national research to better understand pregnancy loss experiences and impacts, and the development of resources and evidence-based advice and interventions, to improve health care (quality) and health and social outcomes for women, babies and their families.

Research spotlights

New workplace resources

We have developed two new resources to help create more compassionate workplaces for people who experience pregnancy loss. These include a toolkit for employers and employees, and a book titled 'Words at Work' that illuminates the experiences of pregnancy loss at work.

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How can we better support workers who experience pregnancy loss?

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth commissioned the Pregnancy Loss Research Group to examine the workplace experiences and support needs of people who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks gestation. Read more about the PLACES project and view/download the final report and policy brief which include details of the nine recommendations made.

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Collaborating with young people to develop pregnancy loss and infertility resources

The SPRING Project – Supporting Pregnancy & Reproductive Health Information for Teenagers – is a collaboration between the Pregnancy Loss Research Group and Transition Year Students at St Angela’s College, Cork. The team has developed an information booklet and other resources - centered around 12 key messages - to increase knowledge and awareness of pregnancy loss amongst young people in secondary schools.

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New miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage information resources

Suite of resources now available to improve the care of people who experience miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage. They include information booklets, multi-lingual videos, an emergency room checklist, a clinic letter template and case studies. These were developed as part of the Health Research Board-funded RE:CURRENT study in collaboration with people with lived experience, health professionals and decision-makers in the maternity services.

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Better care for recurrent miscarriage in Ireland

The RE:CURRENT project evaluated recurrent miscarriage (RM) services in Ireland to inform efforts to standardise and improve the quality of these services. The project was funded by the Health Research Board and is showcased in their latest edition of Health Research in Action. Read more about what the project involved, and its outcomes and impacts to date.

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Why don't we talk about pregnancy loss?

We produced an infographic to enhance advocacy and awareness around pregnancy loss - including key statistics and information for Ireland. Launched during Baby Loss Awareness Week 2023, we use this resource to advocate for enhanced structures, supports and resourcing for pregnancy loss, and encourage others to use it also.

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Why My Baby Died

Involving bereaved parents in their baby’s care and in the maternity hospital reviews that take place after a baby’s death can help parents manage their bereavement and plan for the future. In 2021, we interviewed 20 bereaved parents, about their experience and views, to investigate how they could be involved in maternity hospital perinatal death reviews in ways that benefit them and the review process itself. This graphic narrative – “Why my baby died” – tells their story, in their own words.

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The difference our work makes

Read our case study: Informing national clinical guidelines in pregnancy loss

The updated guidelines on different aspects of pregnancy loss – and the first national guideline on recurrent miscarriage – are an important step in standardising and enhancing services nationally.

Professor Keelin O'Donoghue

Clinical Lead for Guideline Development (Maternity and Gynaecology), NWIHP, and Lead, Pregnancy Loss Research Group

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Pregnancy loss supports

About our website

Through our website, we aim to share pregnancy loss research with a wide range of people, including researchers, health and social care professionals, people who have experienced pregnancy loss, policy-makers and many more. There are organisations and initiatives across Ireland, and beyond, which provide support services around different aspects and types of pregnancy loss. We include details of these on this website for your information.

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News and Media

02 Sep 2026

Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Anomaly – booklet launch 2026

The HSE's National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP), in collaboration with the Pregnancy Loss Research Group (PLRG), has launched a new resource for clinicians and people needing information about termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly. Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Anomaly provides accessible, evidence-informed information on clinical practice, legislation, care pathways and sources of support.

Niamh Howard-Jones presenting her paper ‘Working with ambiguity: Drawing on multiple methods, disciplines and lenses to ensure equitable and respectful miscarriage care with specific reference to pregnancy tissue’ at the Feminist Miscarriage Project Conference

28 Aug 2026

Feminist Miscarriage Project conference explores the multiple ways that people think and feel about pregnancy endings and calls for full-spectrum approach

The New Directions in Miscarriage Research: Interdisciplinary, Intersectional and Full-Spectrum Perspectives conference – hosted by the Feminist Miscarriage Project – brought together almost 80 researchers, clinicians and practitioners, artists, activists and campaigners, from across the UK, Europe, Canada and the US.

12 Aug 2026

Congratulations to the newly appointed Clinical Professor Brendan Fitzgerald

Congratulations to Dr Brendan Fitzgerald who is one of the 39 new Clinical Professors appointed at the College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork. Dr Fitzgerald is a Consultant Perinatal Pathologist at Cork University Hospital (CUH) and member of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group.

L-R: Professor Keelin O'Donoghue (PLRG), Marita Hennessy (PLRG), Senator Linda Nelson-Murray, Senator Nicole Ryan, Minister Peter Burke, Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, Deputy Grace Boland, Anne-Marie Farrell (Féileacáin/PLRG)

16 Jul 2026

PLRG welcomes cabinet approval of leave for pregnancy loss under 23 weeks

The Pregnancy Loss Research Group welcomes the approval by Cabinet of a proposal from the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, to draft a Leave for Pregnancy Loss Bill.

Acknowledgement

This website was developed through the support of an Irish Research Council New Foundations Award, with the Irish Hospice Foundation as civic society partner.

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