Recurrent Miscarriage

How does the Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic work?

The Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic at Saint Mary’s Hospital and provides specialist care and management to patients who have experienced recurrent pregnancy loss, before 16 weeks of pregnancy. Women and birthing people who experience a miscarriage after 16 weeks are supported by another clinic.

We accept referrals from GPs, Early Pregnancy Units and from other hospitals for patients who meet the following criteria:

What will happen when I’m referred?

At your first visit, you will be seen by one of our Specialist Miscarriage Nurses who will complete a detailed assessment of your pregnancy and medical history. The following investigations will then be arranged:

• Blood tests to screen for thyroid function, Coeliac disease, vitamin D deficiency and antiphospholipid antibodies.
• Pelvic ultrasound scan to assess the womb and ovaries

(Please see our patient information leaflet for more detailed information on the known causes and investigations for recurrent miscarriage)

Once your investigations are complete, a follow up appointment will be arranged with one of our doctors to review your results and discuss a plan for your future care.

Support and care in pregnancy

We offer supportive care and management during the first trimester of pregnancy to patients following investigations and review.

Our specialist nurses can be contacted following a positive pregnancy test where regular telephone support calls can be arranged weekly or fortnightly, a reassurance scan can be offered during the first trimester at around 7-8 weeks gestation and prescriptions will be provided as per your care plan.

We will support you alongside your routine antenatal care until around 12 weeks.

Where will we be seen?

The Recurrent Miscarriage clinic is based at Saint Mary’s hospital on Oxford Road.

Our initial appointments following referral and follow up appointments are run as telephone clinics.

Our scan clinics are held in the Gynaecology Out-patient Department, ground floor, Saint Mary’s Hospital.

Multi-disciplinary Links

The Recurrent Miscarriage clinic has links with other clinics both at Saint Mary’s Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary, meaning that couples have access to the best possible care.  These include:

• Preterm Labour Clinic – You may be referred here if your history suggests you have a weakness in your cervix.
• Haematology Antenatal Clinic – All women who are found to have thrombophilia or APA will have continued management throughout their pregnancy in the specialist antenatal clinic or the Recurrent Miscarriage Antenatal Clinic.
• Genetics Clinic – You may be referred here if karyotyping shows any abnormalities in the miscarried baby or placenta.
• Endocrine Clinic – Women with diabetes or thyroid problems may be jointly managed by this clinic.
• Gastroenterology Clinic – Women with positive test for Coeliac disease will be referred here.
• Rainbow Clinic – You may be referred here for specialist antenatal support if you have had a previous pregnancy loss after 16 weeks or pregnancy
• Diabetes Clinic – For women with known diabetes for specialist management during pregnancy

Multi-disciplinary Team

The Recurrent Miscarriage service comprises a multi-disciplinary team of individuals who provide differing elements of input into your care, including: