What is the project about?

Enhancing Early Pregnancy Loss Care

This project focuses on enhancing care for women (and partners) experiencing pregnancy loss in the first trimester. It aims to identify key areas within early pregnancy loss care where improvements are needed. Two key areas of focus include the management of pregnancy-related tissue following first trimester miscarriage and evaluating the introduction of a specialist midwife role.

The management of pregnancy-related tissue following first trimester miscarriage is a complex and sensitive aspect of care, with people’s experiences, expectations and information needs varying considerably. Through exploring current practice, this specific strand aims to inform the development of clearer, more consistent and compassionate approaches to pregnancy-related tissue management at a national level, supporting both women, partners and healthcare professionals. 

In 2025, new specialist midwife roles in early pregnancy loss/miscarriage services were introduced at several pilot sites (funded by the National Women and Infants Health Programme) to provide specialised care and support to women and their partners during and after early pregnancy loss. Anyone who has a first miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy should be sign-posted to information (including information booklets) and support, at the time and that they also receive a follow-up phone call, with some also attending dedicated clinics. This role is a key aspect of the graded model of care recommended for miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage, arising from the RE:CURRENT Project. The role involves working with staff across the maternity hospital/unit, including the Early Pregnancy Unit, emergency room, wards, clinics, theatres, pathology/laboratory and bereavement teams (including Clinical Midwife Specialists in Bereavement and Loss).

What is involved?

• Exploration of national practices relating to the management of pregnancy-related tissue following first trimester miscarriage within the 19 maternity hospitals/units, including pathways, information materials provided to women, and bereavement midwives’ and nurses’ experiences, confidence and perceived challenges in discussing pregnancy-related tissue.
• Examination of the introduction of a dedicated midwife role in early pregnancy/miscarriage care in a tertiary maternity hospital. This includes documentation of role development and implementation as well as early evaluation of its impact on care delivery and staff support.

Who is involved?

Project team

Dissemination activities

Project status

Ongoing: 2025-

Further information

Please email Niamh Howard-Jones: niamh.howardjones@hse.ie