Latest news with #SOGC
CBC
5 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Why those suffering miscarriages could benefit from specialized clinics
Bethany Murray experienced two early pregnancy losses last year and wishes the wait for follow-up mental health care had been smoother. Last winter, when Murray was five-weeks pregnant, she realized she was bleeding heavily and rushed to the emergency department. She was devastated to learn the pregnancy was ending. She and her husband tried again months later, but during an ultrasound appointment, she learned her second pregnancy had also ended early. "My brain was just spinning," Murray recalled. "You blame everything on yourself, even though at the end of the day, you finally know there's nothing you did." About 15 per cent of pregnancies end before 14 weeks gestation, according to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC). Some will suffer early pregnancy loss, commonly called miscarriage, multiple times. Psychological distress such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are common after such a loss, according to the SOGC. The new guidelines, released at the annual SOGC conference in Whistler, B.C., this week, are designed to improve care for patients. They include: Run early pregnancy assessment clinics, where nurses and physicians offer compassionate care in a private area of the emergency department to women who are under 20 weeks' gestation and experiencing pregnancy complications such as nausea, vomiting, vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain or cramping. Offer the medications used to medically manage miscarriage free of charge to avoid surgery for some first trimester pregnancy losses. Reform mental health screening to check for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) routinely in those diagnosed with pregnancy loss. Provide bereavement counselling and other resources to help women who have suffered early pregnancy loss. "Studies have clearly shown offering compassionate care in a proper way from the beginning can lessen that impact," for long-term complications, said Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbeck, the president of SOGC. WATCH | Trauma-informed care for miscarriages: Post-miscarriage care has been overlooked. New recommendations aim to change that 1 day ago Duration 2:02 All-in-one clinics offer advantages Murray agreed with the recommendations, saying she wished someone had talked with her in the hospital and connected her with support networks. When she did go for mental health counselling, the Whitby, Ont., resident said it was difficult to be in a prenatal clinic waiting room. "I think that there should be a separate room for women that have had early or late pregnancy losses where you're not, you know, sitting in a room full of pregnant women." The SOGC's recommendations include a call for more early pregnancy assessment clinics to be established across the country, similar to ones in Britain. Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, an obstetrician and gynecologist who trained in Britain introduced such a clinic at North York General Hospital, where she currently works. She welcomed the recommendation and estimates roughly one-third of hospitals offer similar clinics, which are concentrated in major cities. Murphy-Kaulbeck, the SOGC president, says the recommendations also call for consistent and equitable care, which is especially important for rural areas where the emergency department is often the only option. Early pregnancy loss is still "a condition that nobody talks about," said Tunde-Byass, who is also an associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Toronto. Lasting depression and anxiety Seeing a health-care provider in a welcoming environment with "fine-tuned" care can make a difference to long-term health, Tunde-Byass said. Rather than using a whole new set of resources, the clinics use existing hospital staff and space. At Tunde-Byass's clinic, patients experiencing bleeding, abdominal pain and cramping, are cared for in a private room instead of the emergency department. His wife had a miscarriage, he had no time to grieve. It's a policy he says needs to change 1 month ago Duration 3:28 Etienne Crevier's wife had a miscarriage two weeks ago. He wants grieving fathers-to-be to have access to the same parental insurance benefits to mourn the loss of a child as women do. Having nurses or physicians trained in bereavement counselling or breaking bad news would help in staffing such clinics, Tunde-Byass said. "When you think about depression, post traumatic stress disorders, anxiety, this actually goes on for six to 12 months," Tunde-Byass said, adding that existing children and partners are also impacted. Obstetrician and gynecologist Elyse Lackie, who works at North York General Hospital's early pregnancy clinic and was not involved in developing the guidelines, says emergency departments are designed to treat severe, potentially life-threatening illness or injury quickly. "But early pregnancy loss sometimes is not an acute situation, it's something that's unfolding over days to even weeks," Lackie said. That's why those experiencing early pregnancy loss sometimes have to wait for hours at the emergency department, she said, while an early pregnancy assessment clinic is more ideal. "We provide nursing care, physician care, ultrasound lab care all in one place," Lackie said. "So we can help patients understand what is going on in their early pregnancy complications." Murray called the back-to-back pregnancy losses "soul crushing," and now turns to a support group for people who have experienced the same thing she did. "I'm doing a lot better now, but it wasn't an easy process to go through, unfortunately," she said.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
‘Mental health support is really key': One woman's miscarriage story shows why Canada's new guidelines matter
Warning: This story includes details about miscarriage and early pregnancy loss. 'I was really nervous about it,' Laura Payton recalls, reflecting on a 2020 essay she wrote online describing her miscarriage in 2019. Just a day after she became 13 weeks pregnant, Payton visited an emergency room in Ottawa after experiencing intense cramps that would eventually lead to the loss of her unborn child. Her account of unexpected pain, heavy bleeding and the 'fullness of her experience' quickly became a lifeline for readers, who like her had struggled to find anything beyond clinical terms for early pregnancy loss (EPL). 'I had been so desperate for this kind of information when I was going through it,' Payton told in an interview Tuesday. 'I feel like I have a more profound understanding of the number of people affected by it,' Payton says. Payton unfortunately isn't the only one. According to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC), early loss occurs in about 15 per cent of pregnancies. The society also adds that early pregnancy loss can lead to 'significant psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder.' 'When you're trying to get pregnant or if it's an unanticipated pregnancy, it's a private thing. If you experience a loss in either of those situations, that also tends to be a private thing. And so, we don't talk about it enough,' Payton says. While alone in the washroom of the emergency room triage, Payton says that's when the fetus passed through. 'That was the most painful thing I've experienced in my life. And I mean that emotionally,' she said. She remembers vividly what a health-care worker told her: ''This doesn't dimmish the value of your baby,'' Payton recounts. 'I still think of that moment because she knew exactly what to say and I could feel the passion in her voice that she really emphasized with it.' Now, five years after Payton's loss, a Canadian gynecologist organization has issued new national clinical guidelines designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of early pregnancy loss. The guideline, published Monday in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Canada , suggests best practices for identifying and managing miscarriages that occur in the first trimester. What's new in the guideline? The SOGC's guide spotlights the emotional and psychological toll of a miscarriage and calls for compassionate communication and trauma-informed care. It says health-care providers should make patients aware that most early pregnancy loss is not preventable or treatable and that feelings of isolation and self-blame are common. 'We are seeing different levels of emotional complications from acute grief, self-blame to things like anxiety, depression, PTSD,' Toronto-based OBGYN Modupe Tunde-Byass told in an interview Tuesday. 'Once you miss the emotional aspect, it's very difficult to recover from losses, and most times we don't ask, we don't screen for it,' she added. Health-care providers are urged to validate patient experiences, provide clear explanations on next steps and offer referrals to mental health-care providers when needed. Payton said despite the busyness of the emergency room, in the end she felt the support of health-care workers. 'There are resources that we can link our patients to,' Tunde-Byass said, while also noting that health-care workers undergo bereavement training. The SOGC guide also said clinicians should screen patients diagnosed with pregnancy loss for depression. The society is calling for more Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinics, or EPACs, within Canada, which serve as an alternative to emergency departments for women experiencing symptoms of pregnancy loss. 'Women who are undergoing complications that are not urgent can be seen through a walk-in clinic dedicated for this purpose,' Tunde-Byass said. She explained that this approach allows women to receive care in a comfortable environment where they can fully express their experiences and make informed decisions about their treatment. The SOGC's updated recommendations give specific criteria for confirming early pregnancy loss using ultrasound and hormone testing. Clinicians are also advised to proceed with caution and ensure that viable pregnancies are not misdiagnosed. The goal is to avoid unnecessary delays or premature decisions that could lead to emotional distress or medical complications, the guide says. Payton hopes that governments are listening because these recommendations require funding. 'Having EPACs is not going to be cheap,' she says. 'I hope that it would alleviate some of the emergency room weights and backlogs that we're dealing with.' Tunde-Byass hopes EPACs can become a standard of care across Canada like having a colonoscopy or endoscopy in every hospital. 'We're not talking about breaking the bank,' she insists. 'We're talking about leveraging existing resources.' The model could be implemented with minimal additional infrastructure – a dedicated room, trained staff and access to ultrasound services, she explained. The guideline is particularly crucial for rural areas, where access to specialized care can be limited. 'Everywhere in Canada, it's important that wherever you live, wherever you are, your care should not be different,' Tunde-Byass emphasized. The SOGC also proposed three management options: expectant management (waiting for a natural resolution); medical management (using medication to simulate a natural process); and surgical management. Post-miscarriage care Payton explains that 'when all you're leaving with is a brochure, you don't feel cared for the way you do when you're with somebody like a health-care worker.' In cases when the placenta doesn't pass through during a miscarriage, that tissue needs to be removed through a procedure. 'The follow-up care is very medical in nature,' Payton says. The SOGC cites in its guide that, 'Adverse mental health outcomes are common in EPL and are present in up to 30 per cent of people one month after experiencing EPL.' Tunde-Byass said it's not limited to the person undergoing the loss – it also affects the partner and existing children. The SOGC says clinicians should consider the need for time off for grieving patients and offer psychological support resources. 'I hadn't anticipated the depth of the grief because I hadn't really talked to friends who had gone through it,' Payton says. For those in similar circumstances, Payton doesn't shy away from the pain. 'It's going to be a really tough time in your life. Take care of yourself, accept all the help that friends and family offer you. Don't be afraid to talk about it.' 'The silver lining for me is that then it gives you the experience to be able to help and support others. I want people to be prepared.' Payton adds. Tunde-Byass says health-care professionals need to merge what is done medically with how patients feel. 'They shouldn't have to feel guilty,' she said. 'They shouldn't have to think they're wasting anybody's time.'
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
New national guidelines aim to help care for women experiencing early pregnancy loss
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) has issued new national clinical guidelines designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of early pregnancy loss. The guideline, published today in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Canada , suggests best practices for identifying and managing miscarriages that occur in the first trimester. What's new in the guideline? The SOGC's guide spotlights the emotional and psychological toll of a miscarriage and calls for compassionate communication and trauma-informed care. Early loss occurs in about 15 per cent of pregnancies, the SOGC says. It says health-care providers should make patients aware that most early pregnancy loss is not preventable or treatable and that feelings of isolation and self-blame are common. Health-care providers are urged to validate patient experiences, provide clear explanations on next steps and offer referrals to mental health-care providers when needed. The guide also said clinicians should screen patients diagnosed with pregnancy loss for depression. The society is calling for more Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinics, or EPACs, within Canada, which serve as an alternative to emergency departments for women experiencing symptoms of pregnancy loss. The SOGC's updated recommendations give specific criteria for confirming early pregnancy loss using ultrasound and hormone testing. Clinicians are also advised to proceed with caution and ensure that viable pregnancies are not misdiagnosed. The goal is to avoid unnecessary delays or premature decisions that could lead to emotional distress or medical complications, the guide says.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
SOGC Releases New National Guidance to Improve Care for Women After Early Pregnancy Loss
WHISTLER, BC, June 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Too many women in Canada are left to suffer in silence after early pregnancy loss, facing not only profound grief but also inadequate health care that lacks the compassionate support they urgently need. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Canada (JOGC) has released a new Clinical Practice Guideline on early pregnancy loss (EPL) that includes several new recommendations aimed at improving care for women in Canada. Unlike previous guidelines, which have focused on clinical advice to health practitioners, this one also calls for broader health system reforms, with recommendations to increase resources and take specific, concrete actions to make care for women who lose a pregnancy more responsive, compassionate and patient-centered. Early pregnancy loss is common, occurring in about 15 per cent of pregnancies, and it can lead to significant psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Adverse mental health outcomes are common among women who lose a pregnancy, present in up to 30 per cent of patients. That's why the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) is now advising that women who experience a pregnancy loss should be screened for depression and offered treatment or referral to a mental health care provider, if needed. Patients should also be advised and reassured by their providers that most early pregnancy loss is not preventable or treatable. Feelings of guilt or self-blame can be common, and clinicians should approach these losses with compassion. In addition, the guideline notes that language is important in EPL care and urges providers to steer away from using negative terminology to describe a pregnancy loss. To provide more specialized, comprehensive and compassionate EPL care, the SOGC's guideline also calls for more Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinics (EPACs) to be established across Canada. First introduced in the United Kingdom, EPACs have been found to improve quality of care, reduce wait times and cut costs. They also serve as an alternative to emergency departments for women experiencing symptoms of pregnancy loss. In addition, the SOGC's new EPL Guideline is calling for mifepristone and misoprostol to be made available free for all patients who choose medical management of their pregnancy loss, to avoid the need for an unnecessary surgical procedure. The SOGC's EPL Clinical Practice Guideline will be launched at the SOGC's Annual Clinical and Scientific Conference, taking place June 17–20, 2025, in Whistler, B.C. This year's conference program also includes a number of timely and relevant presentations, including: an overview of the current state of abortion care in the United States by Dr. Stella Dantas; a session on inequities in compensation and surgical wait times in women's health in Canada by Dr. Nicholas Leyland; and a panel discussion featuring representatives from some of the SOGC's international sister organizations on the top three challenges facing women's health, which will include Dr. Frank Louwen, president-elect of FIGO, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. "Every woman who experiences early pregnancy loss should receive the best medical care possible, including compassionate support and the resources needed to help them heal. This guideline is a call to action to make that a standard across Canada, and to ensure that women's voices and experiences are heard and reflected in the care they receive. It is also a call for health systems to invest in structures and services like Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinics that provide compassionate and timely care for women." – Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbeck, President, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. SOURCE The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
16-06-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
SOGC Releases New National Guidance to Improve Care for Women After Early Pregnancy Loss Français
WHISTLER, BC, June 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Too many women in Canada are left to suffer in silence after early pregnancy loss, facing not only profound grief but also inadequate health care that lacks the compassionate support they urgently need. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Canada (JOGC) has released a new Clinical Practice Guideline on early pregnancy loss (EPL) that includes several new recommendations aimed at improving care for women in Canada. Unlike previous guidelines, which have focused on clinical advice to health practitioners, this one also calls for broader health system reforms, with recommendations to increase resources and take specific, concrete actions to make care for women who lose a pregnancy more responsive, compassionate and patient-centered. Early pregnancy loss is common, occurring in about 15 per cent of pregnancies, and it can lead to significant psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Adverse mental health outcomes are common among women who lose a pregnancy, present in up to 30 per cent of patients. That's why the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) is now advising that women who experience a pregnancy loss should be screened for depression and offered treatment or referral to a mental health care provider, if needed. Patients should also be advised and reassured by their providers that most early pregnancy loss is not preventable or treatable. Feelings of guilt or self-blame can be common, and clinicians should approach these losses with compassion. In addition, the guideline notes that language is important in EPL care and urges providers to steer away from using negative terminology to describe a pregnancy loss. To provide more specialized, comprehensive and compassionate EPL care, the SOGC's guideline also calls for more Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinics (EPACs) to be established across Canada. First introduced in the United Kingdom, EPACs have been found to improve quality of care, reduce wait times and cut costs. They also serve as an alternative to emergency departments for women experiencing symptoms of pregnancy loss. In addition, the SOGC's new EPL Guideline is calling for mifepristone and misoprostol to be made available free for all patients who choose medical management of their pregnancy loss, to avoid the need for an unnecessary surgical procedure. The SOGC's EPL Clinical Practice Guideline will be launched at the SOGC's Annual Clinical and Scientific Conference, taking place June 17–20, 2025, in Whistler, B.C. This year's conference program also includes a number of timely and relevant presentations, including: an overview of the current state of abortion care in the United States by Dr. Stella Dantas; a session on inequities in compensation and surgical wait times in women's health in Canada by Dr. Nicholas Leyland; and a panel discussion featuring representatives from some of the SOGC's international sister organizations on the top three challenges facing women's health, which will include Dr. Frank Louwen, president-elect of FIGO, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. "Every woman who experiences early pregnancy loss should receive the best medical care possible, including compassionate support and the resources needed to help them heal. This guideline is a call to action to make that a standard across Canada, and to ensure that women's voices and experiences are heard and reflected in the care they receive. It is also a call for health systems to invest in structures and services like Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinics that provide compassionate and timely care for women." – Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbeck, President, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.
