S Cullen1, S Power2, B Coughlan3, J Chaney4, M Butler5, M Brosnan6. 1. National Maternity Hospital, Holles street, Dublin 2, Ireland. scullen@nmh.ie. 2. , Dublin, Ireland. 3. UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, College of Health Sciences, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. 4. UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland. 5. The University of British Columbia, 2329 W Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. 6. National Maternity Hospital, Holles street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mid-trimester loss (MTL) is an area that is poorly defined in the literature and often under reported in clinical practice. The prevalence of MTL in Ireland is uncertain and has a huge impact on the woman, her family and maternity care services. AIMS: To explore the prevalence and patterns of care for women with MTL in a large Maternity hospital in Ireland. METHODS: A descriptive, exploratory study was used involving a retrospective chart audit. RESULTS: 220 women presented with MTL over the 3 year data collection period (January 2011-December 2013), giving a rate of 0.8 % of all deliveries. The majority of women had no previous pregnancy losses and were multiparous (i.e., had a previous pregnancy >500 g). The mean gestational age was 17.69 weeks (SD = 2.73). The mean length of hospital stay was 1.89 days. Intra muscular (IM) analgesia was the most commonly (58.5 %) used medication. Follow up hospital care was received in over 78 % of cases. The majority of women were referred the CMS Bereavement and Chaplain services, with a small number (approx. 5 %) referred to the social worker. Over 46.4 % of families availed of the hospital burial service. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the incidence of mid-trimester loss may be slightly lower than the 1 or 2 % of pregnancies reported in the literature. The incidence of mid-trimester loss in multiparous women is approximately twice that of nulliparous women. The referral services offered in the study were utilised by most of the women, as were follow-up clinic appointments.
BACKGROUND: Mid-trimester loss (MTL) is an area that is poorly defined in the literature and often under reported in clinical practice. The prevalence of MTL in Ireland is uncertain and has a huge impact on the woman, her family and maternity care services. AIMS: To explore the prevalence and patterns of care for women with MTL in a large Maternity hospital in Ireland. METHODS: A descriptive, exploratory study was used involving a retrospective chart audit. RESULTS: 220 women presented with MTL over the 3 year data collection period (January 2011-December 2013), giving a rate of 0.8 % of all deliveries. The majority of women had no previous pregnancy losses and were multiparous (i.e., had a previous pregnancy >500 g). The mean gestational age was 17.69 weeks (SD = 2.73). The mean length of hospital stay was 1.89 days. Intra muscular (IM) analgesia was the most commonly (58.5 %) used medication. Follow up hospital care was received in over 78 % of cases. The majority of women were referred the CMS Bereavement and Chaplain services, with a small number (approx. 5 %) referred to the social worker. Over 46.4 % of families availed of the hospital burial service. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the incidence of mid-trimester loss may be slightly lower than the 1 or 2 % of pregnancies reported in the literature. The incidence of mid-trimester loss in multiparous women is approximately twice that of nulliparous women. The referral services offered in the study were utilised by most of the women, as were follow-up clinic appointments.
Entities:
Keywords:
Bereavement; Mid-trimester loss; Miscarriage; Pregnancy loss
Authors: Grace W S Kong; Ingrid H Lok; Po M Lam; Alexander S K Yip; Tony K H Chung Journal: Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol Date: 2010-09-20 Impact factor: 2.100