byUniversity of Queensland

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An Australian-first early pregnancy loss support program has been developed to better address the emotional care of bereaved parents. The program, M-HELP (Mental Health after Early Pregnancy Loss), was developed by University of Queensland senior lecturer and psychologist, Dr. Marjolein Kammers and her research team and implemented at various Ramsay Health Care maternity hospital sites in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales. The work isdescribedin the journalMidwifery.

Dr. Kammers said the program aims to close a mismatch between patient experience and health care staff training.

"Research shows early pregnancy loss is often experienced as a traumatic life event, associated with depression, anxiety, PTSD and significant grief and distress," Dr. Kammers said. "This impact can be exacerbated by negative experiences with health care. Many bereaved parents report feeling unsupported or unseen by clinical terminology, dismissed in their loss, and/or isolated in their grief.

"Our study provides important empirical evidence that a practical andintegrated intervention—combining staff training with written support for patients and partners—can reduce symptoms of depression for women and increase confidence and competence for health care providers."

Early pregnancy loss—before 20 weeks gestation—affects about one in four known pregnancies, resulting in about 147,000 cases in Australia each year.

The M-HELP resources were informed by interviewing Ramsay Health Care patients, partners, midwives, nurses, obstetricians, anesthetists and receptionists. The program combines training for everyone involved in care, with a support booklet for bereaved patients and partners that acknowledges the emotional impact of the loss as well as answering key questions.

"No health care provider intends harm, but a mismatch between the strong emotional emergency felt by bereaved parents and the often-limited medical urgency, as well as frequent and routine management, creates gaps in the emotional side of the care," Dr. Kammers said. "This often includes a lack of acknowledgment of the emotional impact,insensitive language, or insufficient information which can worsen distress. Many bereaved parents find clinical terms such as 'missed abortion,' 'products of conception' and 'fetal tissue' confronting and distressing.

"This new approach shows improved women's well-being and includes the partner in the management of the loss, while strengthening staff confidence and competence."

Dr. Kammers said her goal for the program is for it to now be expanded nationally.

"This program is easy to implement and ready to use, and we want to support as many bereaved parents and their health care providers as possible."

More information M.P.M. Kammers et al, Improving mental health outcomes after early pregnancy loss: evaluation of the integrated M-HELP intervention, Midwifery (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2026.104780