If you think you may be miscarrying
If you’re pregnant and experiencing bleeding or pain, it can be frightening. Some bleeding in early pregnancy is common, but it’s important to get checked.
Contact your GP, midwife or NHS 111 for advice. They can refer you to Leeds Teaching Hospitals’ Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) if needed, where you can have specialist assessment and scans.
If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, dizziness or feel unwell, go to A&E or call 999.
You can also read Leeds Teaching Hospitals’ guidance on bleeding and pain in early pregnancy for clear, local advice on what to do next.
Losing a baby or child
Losing a baby or child can be one of the most painful experiences anyone can go through.
Grief after a loss like this can feel overwhelming, confusing and deeply personal. It doesn’t follow a set path or timeline, and it can change over time. Some people feel intense sadness, anger or guilt. Others feel numb or find their feelings come later. There is no right or wrong way to feel.
People experience loss in different ways, and the kind of support that feels right often depends on what you’ve been through. This page is here to help you find information that’s most relevant to you.
You might be looking for support after:
Losing a baby during pregnancy
This includes miscarriage or stillbirth, or the loss of a baby shortly after birth.
Leeds has Specialist Bereavement Midwives who support women and families who lose a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth. They can offer emotional support, information and practical guidance, and can be a dedicated contact during a very difficult time.
They support families who:
- experience miscarriage from 14 weeks
- experience stillbirth or neonatal death
- have a pregnancy where the baby is expected to die
- choose to end a pregnancy because of abnormalities
- become pregnant again after losing a baby
You can find more information and contact details on the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Bereavement Midwives page.
For earlier pregnancy losses, you can also find support services in the MindWell directory.
Find support for miscarriage and baby loss
Losing a baby or child
This may include the death of a baby, child or young person at any age.
Alongside grief, you may be dealing with family life, siblings, work, or the impact of a sudden or traumatic loss. You might feel pressure to cope or support others, even when you are struggling yourself.
Support is available for parents, carers, siblings and other family members who have lost a child.
Find support after losing a child
If you are struggling to cope
Grief can sometimes affect your mental health and wellbeing. If you are struggling, feeling overwhelmed, or need to talk to someone urgently, you can find urgent mental health support on our Need urgent help? page.