References
Tender loving care following recurrent miscarriages: a review of a dedicated antenatal clinic
Abstract
Background
Recurrent miscarriage is defined as three recurrent first trimester pregnancy losses. The Tender Loving Care Clinic is a specialist clinic for women during the first trimester of a pregnancy following recurrent miscarriages. This study's aim was to review cases of those who attended the tender loving care clinic for antenatal care.
Methods
A retrospective chart review was conducted using anonymous data, collected from the electronic records of women who attended the clinic over a 1-year period.
Results
A total of 103 women attended the clinic during the study period. The majority (90.3%) were prescribed medication while attending. Pregnancy outcomes for women attending the clinic were good; 69.2% of women went on to have a live birth.
Conclusions
Pregnancy outcomes following recurrent miscarriages are reassuring with supportive antenatal care. This review highlights the importance of psychological care and reassurance in a pregnancy following recurrent miscarriages.
Recurrent miscarriage is defined as three recurrent first trimester pregnancy losses and affects 1–2% of the population (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, 2017). The benefits of psychological support and weekly ultrasound scanning in pregnancy following recurrent miscarriage are widely reported to improve pregnancy outcomes (Homer, 2019). A specialist clinic for women with recurrent miscarriages is advised by both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG, 2011) and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (2017) guidelines.
The Tender Loving Care Clinic is a specialist clinic for women during the first trimester of a pregnancy following recurrent pregnancy losses. The clinic is run by a senior midwife and overseen by a consultant obstetrician, who also is the lead consultant for the recurrent miscarriage clinic. It offers women weekly visits from 8–12 weeks' gestation. Each visit includes an ultrasound scan and the opportunity for psychological support from an experienced midwife. Women who attend the recurrent miscarriage clinic in the hospital are offered antenatal care in any subsequent pregnancies at the Tender Loving Care Clinic.
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