Research update 📢
New research, published today, has shown Tommy's Graded Model of Miscarriage Care has the potential to prevent 10,075 miscarriages a year in the UK.
Developed by our researchers, Tommy's Graded Model of Miscarriage Care is a new approach where women and birthing people are routinely offered additional care and support from their first miscarriage. The level of care also increases with each loss.
No more waiting, no more being told to come back when you've had 3. The lack of standardised care has left countless families without answers, their grief unrecognised, and opportunities to prevent further losses are missed. Our Graded Model can change this, and have a real impact for families across the UK.
Our report out today has shown this model can be effectively rolled out within the NHS, and can help healthcare professionals provide compassionate care to women and birthing people after every loss.
The report on the Graded Model has also shown, by following this approach to miscarriage care, 10,075 miscarriages could potentially be prevented across the UK every year. That's thousands of families bringing their babies home instead of suffering the trauma of a pregnancy loss.
Now, we're calling for this model to be rolled out across the NHS. We need your help to end the 3 miscarriage wait, so women and birthing people get the care and support they deserve.
If you live in England, click the link in our bio to write to your MP to support this campaign. You can also read the report on our website.
We believe the Tommy’s Graded Model of Miscarriage Care should be available to everyone and are calling on England, Wales and Northern Ireland to join Scotland, who are implementing the model. Right now, our action is only available for MPs in England, but you can use the template email to reach out to Members of the Legislative Assembly or Members of the Senedd.
Thank you all for your incredible support and remember, if you ever need information or advice after baby loss, we're here for you. Email [email protected] 🩷
#MiscarriageCare #BabyLoss #RecurrentMiscarriage
Research breakthrough 🔬
Womb lining problem identified as hidden cause of miscarriage in major UK study.
Our researchers have revealed an abnormal process in the womb lining as the explanation behind some preventable pregnancy loss.
They analysed biopsies from more than 1,300 women and birthing people - making it the largest study of its kind - and found a biological process in the womb lining often doesn’t progress properly in those with a history of miscarriage.
They also discovered that experiencing one miscarriage makes it more likely the womb lining will respond abnormally in future cycles, explaining why miscarriage often recurs.
Dr Joanne Muter, the Tommy's researcher who led the study said: “Many women and birthing people are told they’ve just had ‘bad luck’, but our findings show that the womb itself may be setting the stage for pregnancy loss, even before conception takes place.”
This research paves the way not only for an explanation in some cases but more importantly treatments that could prevent future pregnancy losses.
You can find out more about this research on our website - tommys.org
#ResearchBreakthrough #MiscarriageResearch
Katie’s pregnancy journey ❤
After her first 2 pregnancies ended in heartbreaking loss when her babies were born too soon, our Ambassador @katiebonful was referred to the specialist Tommy’s team led by Prof Andy Shennan.
Through the team’s dedicated care and support, Katie was given a cervical stitch, also known as a cerclage, for her next 3 pregnancies. The procedure, pioneered by Tommy’s, helps prevent premature birth by stopping the cervix from opening too early.
“I will always be so grateful to Professor Shennan and his amazing team who have looked after me so well in my pregnancies over the last 5 years.
I hear so many heartbreaking stories from women all the time who have sadly lost babies, and in many cases some of these losses could have been prevented through medical intervention, just like in my situation.”
With support from Tommy’s, Katie has welcomed 3 beautiful boys: Maximus, Leonidas and Lucius ❤️
Over the last 30 years, our researchers have made multiple breakthroughs, like this cervical stitch, which have gone on to change care and save babies’ lives. But, there’s so much more to be done to help families like Katie’s in the future.
Our new National Centre for Preterm Birth Research will bring leading experts together for the first time to conduct ground-breaking research to reduce the rate of premature birth in the UK, dedicated to making sure every family gets the care and support they need so we can give the next generation a better start in life.
We won’t stop until pregnancy and birth is made safe - for everyone ❤️
Find out about our new centre and how to support our ground-breaking research through the link in our bio. If you need support, resources are on our website 24/7.
#PrematureBirth
This #HGAwarenessDay, we're sharing information about hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
Having HG can be exhausting and hard to cope with. Remember to talk to your midwife or doctor if you're struggling to cope with your symptoms and feelings. They can help you find more support. And if you need advice, you can always reach out to our midwives at [email protected].
For information or support around HG, visit the link in our bio or reach out to our friends at @pregnancysicknesssupport 🩷
#HG #Hyperemesis
This @blackbabylossawareness we want families to know that support is available.
If you have experienced pregnancy or baby loss and need someone to talk to, our helpline with @tommys is here for you. Whether your loss was recent or many years ago, you do not have to navigate grief alone.
Visit the link in our bio to book a call with one of our specialist midwives.
Please share with anyone who may need this support.
#BlackBabyLossAwarenessWeek #BabyLossSupport #FiveXMore
Why are our posts being restricted for using the word vagina?
At Tommy's, we want everyone to have access to up-to-date, accessible and evidence-based information. This includes having the right terminology to describe the human body.
Last year, we tried to share a video following one of our researchers as she spent a day in the lab growing organs (specifically the vaginal microbiome). But on some of our channels, the post was flagged as containing inappropriate content. What this boiled down to was the fact that our research, aiming to find treatments for a bacterial infection that can cause premature birth, referenced the word ‘vagina’.
Sadly, the problem of social media banning or hiding women’s health content isn’t new. In this blog, Izzy reflects on the history of online censorship around women's health and the impact it has for people looking for credible health information 👉
#PregnancyInfo
"We ran in memory of 2 cherished lives and in support of a cause that now means the world to us."
Charlotte and Ben met in 2016, and had a relatively smooth pregnancy with their first baby, Elsa. So when they found out they were pregnant again in 2024, the couple were looking forward to bringing home a sibling for their daughter. But Arthur sadly died after Charlotte was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and septicaemia.
Heartbreakingly, Charlotte died 2 weeks later of a pregnancy-related blood clot: "Anyone who knew Charlotte, experienced her passion for life and commitment to her family. She was just magic, an amazing mum."
To honour Charlotte and Arthur's memory, Ben and his family friend Emily took on the London Marathon as part of #TeamTommys. They raised an incredible £3,394 to help fund our vital research and care. Well done, both 🩷
"This race is part of our collective effort to create some positivity following such a heartbreaking chapter of our lives. We won’t just be celebrating Charlotte’s remarkable life, we will be shining a light of the importance of maternal healthcare.
We're raising money for Tommy's, a charity that now holds a special place in my heart to ensure important research is carried out to help stop the heartbreak and devastation of baby loss and making pregnancy and birth safe – for everyone."
Thank you, Ben and Emily, for your support 🩷
We know stories like these can be hard to read if you're currently pregnant, or have been through preeclampsia or baby loss. Please know, we're here for you.
If you need information or support around premature birth or pregnancy complications, visit our website or speak to a midwife at [email protected].
#PrematureBirth #Preeclampsia
Hi, we're Tommy's, the pregnancy and baby charity 👋
You may have been a part of our community for a while, or first heard about us when we launched our Tommy's Graded Model of Miscarriage Care report last week. But our work actually began back in 1993, at St Thomas' Hospital in London. We wanted to take this opportunity to reintroduce ourselves and the work we do, thanks to your generous donations ➡️
If you need information, support or advice around pregnancy, birth or baby loss, visit our website (tommys.org) or email our midwives at [email protected].
#BabyLoss #UKPregnancy
Today is #InternationalDayOfTheMidwife.
At Tommy's, we're lucky to have a team of incredible midwives who support thousands of families every year. They're here to chat you through anything pregnancy-related, from pre-conception health, to birth choices, baby loss or premature birth. You can contact them for free via email or over the phone.
To our wonderful midwives and the NHS midwives across the country - thank you 🩷
#UKMidwife #BabyLoss #PregnancyLoss
2 days ago, we shared an update about the Tommy's Graded Model of Miscarriage Care.
In those 2 days, the news has been featured on TV, in major news outlets and across social media. And we're proud to share our community has sent an email to every single MP in England 📢.
It's been great to see the impact our research news has had and the hundreds of comments we've received in support of our campaign. But it's also been heartbreaking to read your stories of loss and the lack of care you received afterwards. These comments are an important reminder of just how much the graded model is needed.
We believe everyone should have access to the care they need after every miscarriage, not just after 3. That's why, with your support, we'll keep calling on the government to roll out the model across the NHS.
To everyone who has supported our work, donated or emailed your MP: thank you. We couldn't do it without you 🩷
#MiscarriageCare #BabyLoss
Today, we've launched our Tommy's Graded Model of Miscarriage Care report, which outlines the care we want women and birthing people to receive, not just after 3 miscarriages, but from the very first one.
We think it's unacceptable that many families have to suffer to trauma of multiple losses before getting the help they need. It doesn't have to be this way.
We're calling for our model to be introduced across the UK, to make sure women and birthing people are routinely offered additional care and support from their first miscarriage.
If you live in England, write to your MP today and ask them to support our campaign (link in bio).
#MiscarriageCare #BabyLoss
