Women’s satisfaction with early pregnancy loss healthcare and follow-up support: A cross-sectional study in England

Background Early pregnancy loss (EPL; loss < 13 weeks gestation) is a relatively common pregnancy complication which can have a profound impact on the well-being of women. Evidence reveals that women often experience dissatisfaction with the care they receive, particularly in terms of insufficient aftercare support, which can adversely impact psychological outcomes. This study aimed to provide a current understanding of women’s experiences and satisfaction with early pregnancy loss healthcare and follow-up support and to understand to what extent these experiences relate to psychological well-being and the overall impact of their loss Methods In a cross-sectional study, an online survey was distributed to women in England who had an EPL in the last 3 years, promoted via social media channels. Questions centred on experiences and satisfaction with healthcare, information and support they received, alongside measures of wellbeing and impact of loss. Results 512 women were eligible, with a mean age of 33.72 (SD 4.95). Around four in ten women agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the overall care they received. Lower healthcare satisfaction correlated significantly with poorer psychological well-being. Forty per cent of women reported clinically significant levels of PTSD symptoms and/or moderate to severe levels of anxiety, with one in ten reporting moderate to severe levels of depression. In our sample, seventy per cent of women reported being dissatisfied with the follow-up support they received, with less than ten per cent offered or referred for mental health support. Conclusions Improving healthcare satisfaction, ensuring women’s emotional needs are met, and providing follow-up care are pertinent to enhancing the psychological well-being of women impacted by EPL. Healthcare experiences can be improved through increasing awareness and targeted training of healthcare professionals on how to better support women impacted by early loss. This research recommends policy change and improvements in service provision support to better meet the needs of women who experience EPL, addressing their physical and emotional health.