It is a sad fact that more than one in six pregnancies end in loss in the UK each year. Concerns have been raised over several decades by patients and clinicians alike that language plays a key role in shaping experiences of pregnancy loss.
Now a team of social scientists, led by Dr Beth Malory (UCL English) and working with the baby loss charities Tommy’s and Sands, have found that the language used around pregnancy loss can indeed have a profound impact on patients’ experiences and their future emotional recovery and wellbeing. The team have also published – for the first time – guidance for communication around loss.
In two studies undertaken in 2024, participants said that they had difficulties understanding communications about their care, which led to them feeling frightened or confused – a particular concern for those who speak English as a second language. In addition, clinical terms such as ‘miscarriage’ and ‘incompetent cervix’ were challenging when used to provide information about procedures involved in the loss of a much-wanted pregnancy, and contributed to feelings of guilt and self-blame.
The guidance provides a comprehensive glossary of specific language used in clinical settings, considering its use in mass communications to patients and offering alternatives and advice to clinician (for example, to ask patients about their preferences and respect the patient’s needs).
