My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

For more information on Mumsnet Campaigns, check our our Campaigns hub.

Mumsnet campaigns

Campaign for Better Miscarriage Care - have you got two mins?

61 replies

KateMumsnet · 28/03/2012 15:04

Hello

You might remember that, as part of our Campaign for Better Miscarriage Care, we called for a change to the term 'evacuation of the retained products of conception' to describe the surgical procedure which some women undergo following a miscarriage.  

Great news - following discussions with the Dept of Health, a consultation has been launched by the Association of Early Pregnancy Units and the Miscarriage Association with a view to officially replacing ERPC with an alternative term.  One term being considered is 'surgical completion of miscarriage', as suggested by MNers on a previous thread, along with 'surgical removal of miscarriage' and 'surgical treatment of miscarriage'.

It's terribly exciting that the campaign is starting to galvanise change - so if you've got a mo, do go to the survey site and let them know which term you think is the most suitable. And don't forget to come back and tell us that you've done it!  We'll be sure to keep you informed of progress as things move forward. 

OP posts:
Report
Tee2072 · 28/03/2012 15:13

Answered. I'd like to see the word surgical removed but honestly can't think of anything to replace it! It just seems not much better the ERPU to me!

Report
MrsMicawber · 28/03/2012 15:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhatWouldFreddieDo · 28/03/2012 15:30

Done.

I prefer 'surgical treatment' - somehow 'removal' and 'completion' are more negative, tho don't ask me to analyse why ...

Report
Tee2072 · 28/03/2012 15:43

I think that bugs me as well, MrsMicawber.

Report
LeninGrad · 28/03/2012 15:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BIWI · 28/03/2012 16:00

Oooh - snap-ish, Len! Surgical assistance for miscarriage.

Report
HettyKett · 28/03/2012 16:02

Done.

To me 'surgical treatment of miscarriage' implies some hope of cure Sad

'surgical removal of miscarriage' is surely referring to the dead embryo as a miscarriage, which also seems objectionable.

Report
GwendolineMaryLacey · 28/03/2012 16:07

Done.

Out of the options given I prefer 'completion' and don't like 'removal'

Report
MrsMicawber · 28/03/2012 16:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nappymaestro · 28/03/2012 16:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jaffajiffy · 28/03/2012 16:32

Agree 'treatment' sounds like there's hope. I voted for 'completion'

Thanks, MN.

Report
Gigondas · 28/03/2012 16:40

Tbh this was not something that crossed my mind. The lack of specialist services , sharing facilities with ante natal or the lack of referral (no one should have to chase their Gp repeatedly for this) were more of an issue.

The difference in experience of mc where referred to specialist mc clinic/staff and not was like a different world.

Report
Gigondas · 28/03/2012 16:41

But agree treatment not good wording

Report
CMOTDibbler · 28/03/2012 16:49

I prefer completion.

Agree that there are much bigger problems, but it costs nothing for everyone to start using a gentler term, so its good that they are interested enough to move forward on it, then maybe other things will follow

Report
KatAndKit · 28/03/2012 17:03

Any of the options are better than using "products of conception" although I voted for the surgical completion one. I don't like the word "removal" for some reason.

"completion" has a nice final sense to it, perhaps it will help people to see the procedure as the end of the miscarriage and a starting point for moving on.

I disagree with those who are saying it is necessary to use the word "baby" in a description of the surgical procedure. Whatever is picked still has to be medically accurate and I doubt the medical profession would go for "surgical removal of dead baby" in any case. In many cases of blighted ovum there is no embryo - that happened to me. Of course, personally to me, I had lost my baby, but I am sure that the medical profession need to use appropriate language for their purposes too.

I agree with Gigondas that there are more pressing issues, however this is a good start. Next step is to make sure that women who are miscarrying are not subjected to the waiting room for the antenatal clinic with its fecking BabyTV screens.

Report
ChippingInNeedsCoffee · 28/03/2012 18:10

Done.

I chose completion as it seem 'softer' than 'removal' and less promising than 'treatment'. I would have liked to have offered and alternative, but couldn't think of anything suitable :(

Report
AmandinePoulain · 28/03/2012 18:17

I prefer 'complete' because essentially that is what happens - the mc is incomplete so the procedure completes it, which hints at the fact that the woman in question needs it for her own wellbeing, whereas 'removal' sounds more brutal I think. And as someone said earlier, 'treatment' implies a cure, when there is nothing to be done for the baby in question. To be honest though all of the options are better than the original, the dr that went through my consent form for medical management of my mc seemed almost embarrassed to have to use the term 'products of conception'. Another alternative might be 'surgical management of miscarriage'? As we use 'medical management' now maybe it would contrast well with that and patients would instantly see the difference?

Report
MmeLindor. · 28/03/2012 18:33

Done.

I went for 'completion' too cause it is often referred to as a missed or incomplete miscarriage, and this seems to bring it to a close.

Report
alana39 · 28/03/2012 19:10

Have done, prefer completion (not sure you can remove a miscarriage can you, isn't it a process not a thing?). I'd have preferred any of those to ERPC tbh when I was having one. Thanks for doing this.

Report
LeninGrad · 28/03/2012 19:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KatAndKit · 28/03/2012 19:24

I think completion covers all eventualities. When I had mine I wasn't actively miscarrying. So the procedure covered the whole process to completion (actually it didn't complete it but that's a different story). If someone had already started miscarrying at home, the procedure would complete it. I think "surgical management" is a good term too.

Report
only4tonight · 28/03/2012 19:45

Treatment or completion were both not ideal but ok. It was the term miscarriage that got me so I suggested "miscarried pregnancy". I think that acknowledgement is important.

Report
Taffeta · 28/03/2012 20:06

I voted for "completion".

Great work, MN.

Report
missorinoco · 28/03/2012 20:21

Done

Report
omarlittlest · 28/03/2012 21:10

I also prefer completion - it removes an idea of blame (of oneself) or intervention in case of endless hoping for something hopeful . i really feel it gets as near to an idea of closure or a feeling of putting an end to the emotional agony as one can get.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.