麻豆社

Tommy鈥檚 refuses to accept that losing a baby in pregnancy is 鈥榡ust one of those things鈥�.听

Currently, 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth. Across the UK Tommy鈥檚 dedicated researchers, nurses and midwives are finding causes and treatments to save lives. We also provide free trusted information and support for everyone before, during and after pregnancy.听

Together with our community, we work to break the silence around loss and prevent future heartbreak.

According to a Tommy鈥檚 survey, 71% of parents are not told why their baby has died in pregnancy. In many cases, doctors simply do not know why it鈥檚 happening. Without a medical reason, parents, particularly women, blame themselves.

That鈥檚 why Tommy鈥檚 five national research centres work to find the answers to prevent babies from dying before, during and after birth. We also run state-of-the-art clinics where women can take part in research trials and access specialist care. This speeds up the time it takes to get our scientific breakthroughs into NHS maternity care, which all women can access.

But we need to do more. We need to be able to tell many more parents why they lost their baby and how we can prevent it happening again.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, we鈥檝e seen calls to our midwifery-led helpline increase by over 80%, but we鈥檝e also seen our income reduce by over 40%.听

Our lifesaving research continues to make pregnancy safer for all, but we need your support today to continue to save babies' lives.

听

Marina: 鈥淚 was 33 weeks pregnant when I fell ill. I started bleeding heavily so I was rushed to hospital for an emergency caesarean. Our son Willem was stillborn.

Initially I was in shock and very unwell, I鈥檇 suffered a terrifying placenta abruption and had haemorrhaged. I met our son, I held him, but I was feeling very numb. Three or four days later the tears came.

It was incredibly sad, the realisation that the baby we鈥檇 prepared for was never coming home.听

At the time, we had no idea that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss. A frankly terrifying statistic.

That鈥檚 why Ben and I support Tommy鈥檚. The only charity which is dedicated to finding tests and treatments for miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. They work to make pregnancy safer for everyone, and by doing so, they save babies鈥� lives.听

Ben: 鈥淚t comforts me to know that thanks to Tommy鈥檚 pioneering research, other families in future will not have to experience the heartbreak that we did.

From Marina and I, thank you for supporting Tommy鈥檚 麻豆社 Lifeline appeal.鈥�

London mum 翱产颈茅濒茅鈥檚 first baby Sapphire-Rae was sadly born far too soon to survive, at just 20 weeks. When she got pregnant again six years later, 翱产颈茅濒茅 asked her doctor about having a stitch put in her cervix, which she had read online could help women keep their babies safe inside for longer. The stitch was never put in and she lost Isabella-Rae when her waters broke at 23 weeks.听

鈥淎 month after losing my second daughter I met Professor Shennan at Tommy鈥檚 Preterm Birth Surveillance Clinic. He was the first person to listen to me.

鈥淧rofessor Shennan took his time to explain everything to me. He assured me that with the right help, I would be able to have a living child. I walked out in awe.鈥�

The Tommy鈥檚 team carried out the operation that 翱产颈茅濒茅 had requested before and provided specialist care and support through 37 anxious weeks of pregnancy.听

Tetteh-Kwei is now a happy and healthy two-year-old, and 翱产颈茅濒茅 is being cared for by the Tommy鈥檚 team again with another baby due this spring.

Oxford mum Katherine experienced three miscarriages in three years, as well as a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, while trying to have a sibling for her daughter Anika.
After a straightforward first pregnancy, she couldn鈥檛 understand why this was happening, and came to Tommy鈥檚 National Centre for Miscarriage Research in search of answers.
She met Professor Quenby who advised Katherine to join the SIMPLANT trial, using a diabetes drug to boost stem cells in the womb lining and hopefully help it hold onto a pregnancy. After months of taking the drug and travelling to Coventry for regular appointments with the Tommy鈥檚 team, Katherine fell pregnant shortly after the trial ended.听
"I attribute my successful pregnancy and the safe arrival of my daughter Sietske to the ground-breaking research conducted by Tommy鈥檚.
鈥淲e still don't know exactly why I suffered recurrent miscarriages. That鈥檚 why I am passionate about the need for more research to find out more about why miscarriages happen, to prevent others from experiencing the same devastating repeated losses we did."

Birmingham mum Anita had a smooth pregnancy with first son Nirvan, only to be devastated by multiple miscarriages over the next seven years.听
After a painful loss at 21 weeks, Anita and her husband Nadir came to Tommy鈥檚 National Centre for Miscarriage Research for specialist help and emotional support.
鈥淚 am indebted and grateful to Tommy鈥檚 and my research nurse Oonagh. I couldn鈥檛 have imagined surviving those painful months without knowing that I was under the care of the best clinicians.鈥�
When the couple, who are both NHS doctors, became pregnant again during the coronavirus pandemic, extreme anxiety meant they kept it secret from almost everyone.听
鈥淲ithout Tommy's support I am not sure how bereaved mothers like myself would be able to face yet another uncertain pregnancy full of tribulations and distress.鈥�
Fortunately, their baby Rumi arrived safely last summer and has been thriving ever since.