Mumsnet miscarriage survey results

Better miscarriage care We asked Mumsnetters to complete a survey telling us about their experiences of miscarriage - and the response was overwhelming. Nearly 1,400 Mumsnetters told us about their experiences, making this one of the biggest surveys so far undertaken into miscarriage care.

Thank you to everyone who took part and shared their experiences.

Nearly two thirds (63%) of women who miscarried at home following a hospital scan said they weren't offered adequate pain relief
Over a fifth of women referred for a scan (21%) had to wait three or more days
Of those Mumsnetters treated in hospital, nearly half (48%) were treated alongside pregnant women
Over a third (35%) of those who required a surgical procedure following miscarriage had to wait four or more days
15% of Mumsnetters who were treated in hospital rated their consultant's sympathy and compassion as 'awful'
A fifth (19%) of respondents dealt with their miscarriage at home, only alerting medical staff after the event
Over a quarter of those who had information from healthcare staff (29%) rated the information they received as 'poor' or 'inadequate'
More than one in 10 (11%) women didn't tell family and friends about their miscarriage

Full survey results

MN Miscarriage Survey Sept 2011
How many miscarriages have you experienced?
Answer Options		Response Percent
One		56%
Two		24%
Three		9%
Four		6%
Five		2%
Six		1%
Seven or more		1%
Not stated		0%


How many weeks pregnant were you?
Answer Options		Response Percent
Less than 4 weeks		1%
From 4 up to 6 weeks		13%
From 6 up to 12 weeks		70%
From 12 up to 16 weeks		11%
From 16 up to 20 weeks		3%
Over 20 weeks		2%
Don't know/ ns		1%

Average		9.5 weeks
Who from the following, if anyone, did you talk to about your miscarriage? Tick all that apply
Answer Options		Response Percent
No-one		3%
Partner		93%
Close female friend		67%
Close male friend		7%
Close family member		61%
Wider friends		24%
Wider family		14%
Posted on Mumsnet about it		15%
I posted on an internet talkboard (not Mumsnet)		13%
Not stated		0%

Were healthcare professionals aware of your miscarriage at any stage or did you deal with it without informing any medical staff? If you've had more than one miscarriage please think about the last one you experienced.
Answer Options		Response Percent
Healthcare professional was aware - whilst miscarriage happening eg you miscarried in hospital or it was discovered following a routine scan		73%
Healthcare professional aware - after miscarriage had occurred - eg you dealt with it at home then reported to GP		19%
Dealt with it without informing any medical professional - eg no medical staff knew you'd miscarried		3%
Can't remember/ don't know/ ns		1%
Other (medical staff aware)		5%

If you sought or received medical attention from the NHS, how would you rate your overall care, where ‘5’ is excellent and ‘1’ is abysmal?. All who rec'd care on NHS (1332)
Answer Options		Response Percent
5 - excellent		14%
4		28%
3		29%
2		17%
1 - abysmal		10%
Don't know		2%

Average		3 out of 5
If you were treated in hospital for your miscarriage, were you at any point being treated alongside women with ongoing pregnancies or newborn babies, or women who were terminating unwanted pregnancies? Base: All treated in hospital for miscarriage
Answer Options		Response Percent
Yes		48%
No		36%
Don't know		16%

If you were referred for a scan on the NHS to confirm that your baby no longer had a heartbeat, how long did you have to wait for the scan to take place? Base: all referred for a scan on NHS
Answer Options		Response Percent
Under 4 hours		23%
Between 4 and 8 hours		9%
Between 8 and 24 hours		18%
Between 1 and 2 days		26%
More than three days		21%
Don't know		3%

Do you find the term "evacuation of retained products of conception" (a medical term that refers to the medical treatment after a miscarriage) insensitive?
Answer Options		Response Percent
Yes - very		33%
Yes - to some extent		34%
Not really		21%
No - not at all		6%
Don't know		5%

Were you referred for the ‘evacuation of retained products of conception’ procedure (called a ERPC)? If yes, how many days did you have to wait between the diagnosis and the procedure? Base: All who had ERPC
Answer Options		Response Percent
Less than a day		14%
Next day		21%
2-3 days		26%
4 days or more		35%
Don't know		4%

If you miscarried in hospital, how would you describe the information you were given about what would happen to the foetus? Base: All who miscarried in hospital
Answer Options		Response Percent
Information was comprehensive and compassionate		15%
It was ok/ fine		30%
It was sketchy or insensitive		38%
Don't know		18%

Throughout your miscarriage, how would you rate the information you were given by NHS healthcare staff (where ‘5’ is comprehensive, and ‘1’ is inadequate and/or misleading)
Answer Options		Response Percent
5 - comprehensive		13%
4		23%
3		27%
2		14%
1 - inadequate and/or misleading		13%
Don't know		1%
NA: No information given by NHS healthcare staff		8%

Throughout your miscarriage, how would you rate the information you were given by NHS healthcare staff (where ‘5’ is comprehensive, and ‘1’ is inadequate and/or misleading) Base: All given information by NHS heathcare staff
Answer Options		Response Percent
5 - comprehensive		15%
4		25%
3		30%
2		15%
1 - inadequate and/or misleading		14%
Don't know		1%

If you miscarried at home following a scan, did you feel you were given adequate pain relief medication? Base: All who miscarried at home following a scan
Answer Options		Response Percent
Yes - was given adequate pain relief		21%
No - was not given or offered adequate or any pain relief		63%
Was advised to take own pain relief		3%
Didn't need any		5%
Don't know		7%
Other (please specify)		1%

After your miscarriage (whether at home or in hospital), were you contacted by anyone (such as a GP surgery or community midwife) who seemed unaware that you had miscarried? If so, by whom?
Answer Options		Response Percent
Yes - by GP		4%
Yes - by Doctor’s receptionist		3%
Yes - by Community midwife		12%
Yes - by Hospital midwife		4%
Yes - by Hospital consultant		2%
Yes - by Hospital nurse		1%
Yes - by Scan technician		3%
Yes - by commercial company eg Bounty, Boots Baby Club		13%
No		63%
Don't know/ns		5%
NET ANY		32%

For each of the following NHS healthcare professionals who were potentially involved in your treatment for miscarriage, please rate them for how sympathetic and compassionate they were, where ‘5’ is excellent and ‘1’ is awful.
Answer Options	5 excellent	4	3	2	1 awful	Don't know
GP	38%	25%	16%	11%	9%	1%
Doctor’s receptionist	20%	17%	20%	14%	15%	14%
Community midwife	27%	24%	14%	17%	14%	6%
Hospital midwife	36%	23%	16%	10%	11%	3%
Hospital consultant	27%	25%	17%	13%	15%	2%
Hospital nurse	33%	26%	16%	11%	13%	1%
Scan technician	33%	25%	19%	10%	12%	1%
answered question		1364
skipped question		26
Average
GP	3.7 out of 5
Doctor’s receptionist	3.2 out of 5
Community midwife	3.4 out of 5
Hospital midwife	3.6 out of 5
Hospital consultant	3.4 out of 5
Hospital nurse	3.5 out of 5
Scan technician	3.6 out of 5