Pregnancy loss rates vary significantly based on location, with women in rural areas facing greater challenges, according to a recent report. The charity Pink Elephants revealed that women in remote regions are 60% more likely to experience perinatal death compared to those in urban centers. The report highlights the urgent need for improved care for women who suffer miscarriages in these communities.

The study included testimonies from women who have experienced pregnancy loss. It found that rural women often wait an average of three hours longer for specialized obstetric care. "Women are having multiple recurrent pregnancy loss and they are falling through the cracks of the system," said Samantha Payne, co-founder and CEO of Pink Elephants Support Network. She emphasized that no one is checking in on these women emotionally or psychologically.

The report identified five key areas for reform: establishing national care standards, implementing continuity of care models, ensuring trauma-informed communication, providing culturally safe support, and developing digital-first peer services. Since the early 1990s, more than 40% of midwifery centers in rural areas have closed, according to the National Consensus Framework for Rural Maternity Services. The National Rural Health Alliance stated that this situation places rural and remote women and their babies at unprecedented risk.

Catherine, a mother living near Mudgee in Central West New South Wales, shared her experience of three missed miscarriages since 2023, along with a chemical pregnancy. A missed miscarriage occurs when a fetus has died without any physical signs. "It's pretty devastating," Catherine said. "You go in with the usual worries, but then the hopes and the excitement, and then for them to not be able to find a heartbeat."

She noted that the biggest challenge was the delay in treatment. After her first miscarriage, it took nearly two weeks to schedule and perform a surgical procedure. "Access meant there was a delay in everything," she said, advocating for early support and treatment, including early loss clinics.

In response to these issues, the New South Wales government allocated $83 million to maternity care this year, with $44.8 million designated for expanding the Midwifery Group Practice program.

Lucy Frankham, a perinatal psychology specialist based in Ballina, pointed out that while support exists, it is often limited for rural and regional mothers. "I'm aware of women who have accessed emergency departments who haven't been able to confirm they've been having a miscarriage and have been sent away to wait for a private ultrasound the following day," she said.

Dr. Frankham noted that women often face long travel distances for care, leading to delays in procedures and access to necessary tests. She highlighted that while physical health is often monitored, mental health support is frequently overlooked.

Federal Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Rebecca White stated that the government has invested $5.5 million over four years to enhance miscarriage support services. This includes $4 million allocated to Pink Elephants Support Network for specialized early intervention care. "We are committed to ensuring that every person, regardless of where they live, has access to compassionate, culturally safe, and evidence-based support," Ms. White said.

Ashlea Russell, who lives in Port Douglas, shared her experience of a miscarriage in June. She had to travel three hours round trip for a surgical procedure, which took an emotional toll on her and her husband. "It crushed me, it crushed my husband — we'd been trying [to conceive] for, honestly, so long," she said.

Russell, who has endometriosis, emphasized the need for better healthcare access in rural areas. "To get help up here is a lot more difficult than anywhere else," she said. "I just think these rural areas need to not be forgotten. I think that the Australian government needs to stand up and do a lot more, especially for women's health."