Pregnancy Loss Research Group | University College Cork

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

Pictured at AEPU 2025, Professor Keelin O'Donoghue and Dr Deirdre Hayes-Ryan

17 Nov 2025

PLRG @ the Association of Early Pregnancy Units Annual Scientific Meeting 2025

Members of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group attended and presented work at the AEPU Annual Scientific Meeting 2025 which was held at the Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow from 13-14 November 2025.

12 Nov 2025

Niamh Howard-Jones appointed Candidate Advanced Midwife Practitioner - Early Pregnancy Loss/Miscarriage Services at CUMH

Niamh Howard-Jones was recently appointed Candidate Advanced Midwife Practitioner - Early Pregnancy Loss/Miscarriage Services at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH). This new role – currently one of several pilot roles across the country, funded by the National Women and Infants Health Programme – involves providing specialised care and support to women and their partners during and after early pregnancy loss.

are (l-r) Tara Woulfe, Parent Advocate, Pregnancy Loss Research Group at the UCC INFANT Research Centre, Dr Avril Hutch, Director of EDI at UCC, Prof. John O’Halloran, UCC President, Dr Marita Hennessy, Postdoctoral Researcher, Pregnancy Loss Research Group and Prof. Keelin O’Donoghue, Consultant Obstetrician/Senior Lecturer at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) and UCC.

10 Oct 2025

UCC launches Irelands first Pregnancy Loss Support Policy for University staff

The first Pregnancy Loss Support Policy for staff in an Irish university was launched today by University College Cork (UCC), marking a significant step forward in workplace wellbeing and inclusion.

Read on ucc.ie

09 Oct 2025

New national resources launched to create more compassionate workplaces for people who experience pregnancy loss

Two new resources to help create more compassionate workplaces for people who experience pregnancy loss have been launched at an event hosted by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy, in City Hall on Thursday. The resources, developed by the Pregnancy Loss Research Group at University College Cork (UCC), include a toolkit for employers and employees, and a book that shines a light on the experiences of pregnancy loss at work.

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.