{
  "id": 597502,
  "title": "Calls to address hidden pain of regional pregnancy loss",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/calls-to-address-hidden-pain-of-regional-pregnancy-loss",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-11T20:01:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-12/pregnancy-loss-causing-trauma-for-regional-families/107009552"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Western Australian mother is shedding light on the insufficient support available to rural women experiencing miscarriage. The government of Western Australia has now introduced a pilot program in the South West to provide additional assistance to families affected by perinatal loss. Psychologist Heidi Lynn Welsh, who has endured multiple miscarriages, including the stillbirth of her daughter Ellie at 38 weeks in 2017, emphasizes the immense emotional toll of such losses. Ms Welsh recounts her own experience of receiving only pamphlets after her hospital discharge, devoid of any real support to help her cope with the grief. She decided to establish the support group My Little Luv to connect with others who have suffered similar losses, as she believes that talking about these experiences can alleviate the pain. According to Skye Stewart, a midwife and researcher in perinatal loss bereavement care, access to bereavement care is the most significant obstacle for rural families. She stresses the necessity of providing care that encompasses both clinical expertise and mental well-being. Stewart adds that enhancing access to support could mitigate the long-term trauma, which may manifest as heightened anxiety and depression. Despite the lack of a comprehensive national understanding of the prevalence of pregnancy loss in Australia, a recent study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare highlights significant gaps in knowledge regarding the affected populations, access to care, quality of care, and early intervention strategies. Stewart advocates for consistent data collection to identify strengths in current support systems and pinpoint areas requiring improvement. She believes that when families feel their experiences are acknowledged, they can recover and move forward. Welsh hopes that by sharing her story, other families can avoid the hardships she faced. The WA Country Health Service recently launched a Perinatal Loss Service pilot in the South West, aiming to offer comprehensive care to affected families. The government plans to assess the pilot program next year to determine if it can be extended to other rural areas. Emma McBride, the federal assistant minister for mental health and suicide prevention, highlights the government's commitment to exploring nationwide options for consistently tracking miscarriage data and establishing a federally funded mental health center in Bunbury.",
  "summary": "Bunbury psychologist Heidi Lynn Welsh has endured the pain of multiple lost pregnancies, and finally more help is on its way to address the regional gaps in bereavement support for women like her.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}