One in four pregnancies will end in a first-trimester miscarriage, which is the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy.
Since 2023 in Ireland, recurrent miscarriage is defined as two consecutive pregnancy losses in a row. It affects between 1% and 5% of the population.
These stark figures illustrate how common miscarriages are. But despite the frequency of miscarriages, the topic remains taboo in a lot of cases, with many women and couples feeling like they have nowhere to turn to when they experience pregnancy loss.
“While miscarriage is referred to as common for many, it’s still unexpected, and it can be upsetting and sometimes even traumatic,” explains Professor O’Donoghue, Consultant Obstetrician, CUMH and Lead at the Pregnancy Loss Research Group at University College Cork.
“Our research with people who…