Miscarriage - patient experience

Finding out you’ve had a miscarriage is such a lonely feeling, whether your family and friends knew you were pregnant or not. No one really knows exactly what to say. The nurses at the early pregnancy clinic at Peterborough hospital informed me of what options I had as a treatment for my miscarriage. I knew right away I didn’t want to live these events alone at home. I knew I wanted to process, honor this pregnancy and what I had been going through without any more fear. I chose to have the surgical management of my miscarriage with local anesthesia. I went in for the procedure accompanied by my husband. While we waited for the operation, we had time to process and grieve together without being preoccupied with daily life. When rolled out to the surgical theater, I was never alone. I left my partner's side only to be escorted, supported, reassured by an amazing team of women working in the operating theatre. They respected all my choices, explained as much or as little of what was happening. They held my hand, distracted me, wiped my tears and hugged my shoulders through the whole procedure. They knew exactly how I was feeling and they instinctively knew what I needed. Their gentle approach was what I required in these difficult moments. I truly felt like I was surrounded by a sisterhood of women who understood not only my body but also the emotional support that I required to end this journey. The surgeon comforted me, answered all my questions and reassured me before I was discharged. Only a few hours later, I left the hospital to continue my healing at home. The next day, I was physically well and able to move forward in my emotional healing of this loss'      

Peterborough City Hospital patient, March 2020
If you are interested in reading other women’s experience of their miscarriage the Miscarriage Association has a large number of stories to read:

 
We are currently looking for stories from women who have had a miscarriage treatment at Peterborough City Hospital and Hinchingbrooke Hospital, to include on the website and in our leaflets.  We know from questionnaires completed recently that other women who have had a miscarriage under would like to be able to read other’s stories for guidance and support. Knowing that you are not alone in your treatment decision, and in your emotions is a big relief for many women, and if you think your story could help other women who are in the same situation as you, then please send it to us. 
 
All stories will be kept anonymous, and all names will be changed. Possible things you could include would be:
  • What emotions you experienced after the miscarriage diagnosis
  • Why you chose your particular treatment
  • Your experience of the treatment 
  • Your experience of the recovery after your miscarriage (including physical symptoms and emotions)
  • Any helpful advice you have for someone going through a miscarriage
 
We will read through the stories, and if we feel they would be helpful for other women, then we will publish it on the website and in the leaflets (all anonymously). 
 
Please write your story down, and bring this directly to us in EGU. If you have any questions you want to ask before you do this, please ring us or ask. 
  •