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Irish Examiner
16 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Miscarriage: It can be really hard when you don't know what to expect
The vast majority of women who suffer a miscarriage in Ireland feel unsupported by doctors, and have criticised a lack of counselling around such trauma. Only a third of women feel their GPs provide enough support in the aftermath of miscarriage, with family and friends picking up the slack in two thirds of cases. Similarly, just a third believe support from healthcare professionals to be good. The Irish Examiner National Women's Health Survey, conducted by Ipsos B&A, found that one in four women experience miscarriage. Among women who have experienced fertility issues, the figure rises to almost 50%. In the survey of 1,000 women in Ireland, aftercare support receives the loudest criticism. Six in 10 women said the availability of supports such as counselling is lacking. A similar number reports that follow-up from healthcare providers is insufficient. Jennifer Duggan, chairperson of the Miscarriage Association of Ireland, said the findings align with the organisation's experience: 'They, unfortunately, tally with what we hear ourselves from women we speak to." Almost half criticised the quality of information provided by healthcare professionals, citing it as poor or very poor. 'It can be really hard when you don't know what to expect. "You might be told that you may bleed heavily, but you don't know how heavy is too heavy, or how painful is too painful," said Ms Duggan. It can be really scary and frightening to go through that with little to no information. Naomi Collins, 45, from Galway, had her first miscarriage when she was 10 weeks pregnant. At the hospital, she was told that the spotting would progress to miscarriage and that she should go home and wait for it to happen. 'That was the extent of the help I got in the hospital, and nobody checked up on me after that. That was disappointing,' she said. 'The overwhelming feeling was that I felt hollow." Naomi Collins from Corrandulla, Co Galway, miscarried at 10 weeks. Picture: Ray Ryan Given that one in four women miscarry, she said: "There are an awful lot of people who are not aware whatsoever that the woman sitting next to them at work has had a miscarriage, the woman next to you on the bus has had a miscarriage." Some green shoots are emerging in follow-up care. The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) announced earlier this month that it is expanding its counselling service to include women and couples who experience recurrent pregnancy loss. The HSE-funded pilot project is available to anyone who has two or more miscarriages in a row, offering up to eight free counselling sessions. "The grief that accompanies miscarriage is real and deeply felt," says the IFPA's counselling director, Clare O'Brien. We don't want anyone to feel isolated and alone. We want them to know they can speak to us about their loss, fear and frustrations without judgment — and with total confidentiality and support. In April, University College Cork's Pregnancy Loss Research Group (PLRG) made a series of resources available to women who experience miscarriage. The resources include accessible booklets that answer questions such as what happens next and what supports are available, and provide details of other women's lived experiences. In response to the survey's findings on miscarriage, Professor Keelin O'Donoghue, PLRG lead and obstetrician at Cork University Maternity Hospital, said: "Pregnancy loss is a common life experience for many women. "Everybody will experience it differently and will have different needs in their care and support after it happens. "The awareness of what is needed and why this is important is improving, but slowly, and there is much more work to be done across society, policy, health services, and communities with regard to pregnancy loss care and supports more generally." Resources are available on the Pregnancy Loss website —
Irish Times
02-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Woman who suffered six miscarriages says employers' response ranged from empathy to pressure to return to work
A woman who suffered six miscarriages has said the response from employers ranged from empathy to pressure to return to work. Jennifer Duggan, chair of the Miscarriage Association of Ireland , said she felt like she needed to 'suck it up, be fine and get on with it' when she did go back to work. She said legislation providing for leave during pregnancy loss would mean people have space to both recover physically and 'time to grieve'. The Labour Party argues there has been 'no progress' on the issue of pregnancy loss leave since it tabled a Bill on the topic in 2021 . READ MORE The Government said it is committed to introducing such measures in legislation that is to be drafted as a 'priority'. Ms Duggan, from Co Cork, said she and her husband Padraig decided to start a family in 2008 and she became pregnant. However, she said, 'our world fell from under us when we went for our scan at 13 weeks to be told: 'I'm so sorry, but there is no heartbeat.'' She was working in retail at the time, and her doctor signed her off on sick leave. However, she said she had 'stress and anxiety' when getting calls from a company nurse, which left her 'feeling pressured into going back to work'. When she returned, she found it difficult to deal with the public while feeling as if 'at any moment a dam of tears could burst'. She sought a different role but was told 'basically ... to get on with it'. 'So that was what I felt I needed to do. Suck it up, be fine and get on with it.' [ Tribunal hears legal argument over whether recent miscarriage triggers maternity law protections Opens in new window ] Ms Duggan went on to work elsewhere in customer service and experienced varying levels of support during five more miscarriages. After her fourth miscarriage, tests discovered she had a genetic condition that resulted in a higher risk of miscarrying. Ms Duggan also said that after this fourth loss her workplace was 'supportive to a degree', but she was also given a written warning over an absence. However, her manager at the time of her fifth miscarriage was 'so supportive', she said. She got sick leave, and 'there was no pressure put on me to rush back'. She also experienced support after the loss of a sixth baby, with a manager 'checking in to see how I was doing without being invasive'. Her first son, Daithi, was born in 2009. She has two other children: Siofra (13) and Oisin (9). She said that over eight years 'we had six miscarriages – lost six little babies – and had three beautiful living children'. 'How your employer deals with you at one of the most difficult times in your life can have a huge impact on the healing process and the trauma that goes with it,' she said. Jennifer Duggan with her husband Padraig and children Dáithi, Siofra and Oisin The Miscarriage Association of Ireland offers peer-to-peer support for people experiencing pregnancy loss. Ms Duggan said legislating for miscarriage leave would mean 'one less thing people experiencing pregnancy loss have to worry about'. Proposed legislation first put forward by the Labour Party in 2021 would provide for up to 20 days of paid leave for women suffering early pregnancy loss. In January 2024, the then-government deferred any progression of the Bill for 12 months to allow more time to develop legislative proposals. Labour Party TD Marie Sherlock recently tabled a parliamentary question asking Minister for Children Norma Foley if she intends to take up the issues in Labour's Bill. In response, Ms Foley said she recognises 'the enormous, personal impact that pregnancy loss has on expectant parents'. Officials were said to be examining a study by University College Cork (UCC) academics that recommended 'a statutory right to paid leave' for pre-viability pregnancy loss. Ms Foley's department is also developing the next National Strategy for Women and Girls, due to be published by the end of June, which would be informed by the UCC research. The department is also to engage with the Department of Enterprise on the issues in Labour's Bill. [ Even the word 'miscarriage' seems to suggest the mother is somehow at fault Opens in new window ] Ms Sherlock said 'seeing is believing here in terms of the Government actually being serious about developing any legislative proposals'. She argued there has been 'no progress' since Labour first tabled its Bill in 2021. A Department of Children statement said the Government 'has committed to including provisions providing for leave for pregnancy loss' in a Bill 'which has been given priority drafting'. It said development of a new form of family leave requires 'very careful consideration around who would be entitled to the leave and how the leave would operate in practice'. 'It is important that any form of leave would be effective in addressing the needs of employees, while also be practical to implement,' it said. The department said 'any form of leave – even unpaid – can have significant costs for the exchequer and these must be fully identified'.
Bloomberg
18-03-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Hedge Funds Aim to Break Tycoon's Hold Over Packaging Empire
By , Jennifer Duggan, and Donal Griffin Save Welcome to The Brink. It's Luca Casiraghi in Milan, Jennifer Duggan in Dublin and Donal Griffin in London, where we looked at the career trajectory of Irish tycoon Paul Coulson ahead of a battle against hedge funds for control of Ardagh. We also have news on Forever 21, Panama bonds and Thames Water. Follow this link to subscribe. Send us feedback and tips at debtnews@ The legal battle between hedge funds and Irish tycoon Paul Coulson for the control of Ardagh Group has just started, but it's been years in the making.
