Rural mothers in Australia are facing significant challenges in accessing miscarriage care, often having to travel over 500 kilometers for essential medical services. This alarming trend is highlighted in a report by the pregnancy loss network Pink Elephants, released in conjunction with Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October 2023. The report emphasizes a troubling disparity in support for women experiencing pregnancy loss in rural areas compared to their urban counterparts.
Claire Brett, a mother from rural New South Wales, experienced the profound emotional toll of multiple miscarriages. After suffering five losses, she felt immense anxiety throughout her subsequent pregnancy, questioning daily whether she would be able to bring her second child into the world. “Every single day, I’d wake up wondering, ‘Is today the day?'” she shared. When she finally went into labor in 2021 during COVID-19 lockdowns, her fears intensified. Despite her emotional distress, the midwives at the hospital were initially unaware of her history until she broke down in tears, prompting them to provide the compassionate care she desperately needed.
The Not Just A Loss report reveals that women in remote areas are 1.6 times more likely to experience perinatal death than those in urban settings. It advocates for a continuity of care model, which would allow women to see the same medical team for each appointment throughout their losses and subsequent pregnancies. This approach is vital for ensuring the wellbeing of mothers and their babies, a point underscored by the landmark inquiry into birth trauma conducted by the New South Wales parliament.
The report also highlights the logistical hurdles faced by rural families. Women in Western Australia, for instance, must travel as far as 500 kilometers for dilation and curettage surgery, a procedure often necessary following a miscarriage. Megan Belot, a rural generalist working in Charleville, Queensland, pointed out that ongoing closures of maternity units exacerbate the situation. “It’s important to acknowledge the tyranny of distance,” she noted, stressing the emotional and practical burdens that rural mothers face when seeking care.
The Pink Elephants report calls for a reassessment of the state’s patient travel scheme, which currently offers only $70 for accommodation per night per person over 18. This support is insufficient given the extensive travel required for medical care. Furthermore, the absence of national data on pregnancy loss renders the issue largely invisible, particularly for First Nations women, who experience even greater disparities in healthcare access.
Katrina Ward, who operates the Brewarrina and Walgett Aboriginal Medical Services in northern New South Wales, emphasized the necessity of data in securing health funding. She advocates for targeted funding to train more Aboriginal healthcare workers to provide miscarriage, pregnancy, and post-natal support within their communities. “For years we’ve been saying Aboriginal people know what we’re doing, know what needs to be done, but we just can’t get the back-up to do it,” Ms. Ward expressed. “People deserve more.”
As the conversation around miscarriage care continues to evolve, the report by Pink Elephants serves as a crucial reminder of the systemic barriers faced by rural mothers in Australia. It calls for urgent action to improve access to care and support, ensuring that no mother has to endure the pain of loss without adequate resources.
For those in need of immediate support, Lifeline can be reached at 13 11 14, and beyondblue at 1300 22 4636.
