Miscarriage Data Gaps Leave Migrant Women Without Support
A landmark Australian study reveals 30% of women who gave birth in 2022 had a prior miscarriage, but experts warn the data fails to capture many from
Three in ten women who gave birth in Australia in 2022 had previously experienced a miscarriage. One in ten had suffered two or more losses. This first-of-its-kind data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is hailed for finally revealing the prevalence of early pregnancy loss.
Yet experts fear the study misses large groups of women, particularly those from multicultural backgrounds. They warn this lack of accurate data means diverse families are missing out on important support services.
Farhana Laffernis, 34, knows this gap firsthand. She has experienced five miscarriages. "Grief almost becomes practised or like a routine. You still feel the sting of it every time," she told reporters. Her first loss occurred eight weeks into her first pregnancy during Covid-19 lockdowns, forcing her to process the news alone.
After two miscarriages, Laffernis successfully conceived her daughter through IVF. She describes a pregnancy filled with terror, contrasting with perceived blissful ignorance around her. Three further losses after her daughter's birth marked the end of her attempts to have more children.
A Culture of Silence in Migrant Families
For Laffernis, from a migrant Indian family, the pain was compounded by a reluctance at home to discuss what was happening. Initial losses were dismissed as 'bad luck'. After five, she stopped telling people. She attributes this to a mentality in some communities where parents migrated from difficult circumstances, making miscarriage seem a lesser tragedy.
"Maybe miscarriage isn’t the worst thing that’s ever happened to anyone ever, but it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me," Laffernis said. She eventually had hard conversations with her family about the support she needed.
Dr. Fatima El-Assaad, founder of support platform The Still Nest, says this silence is common. Cultural and religious practices can make fertility journeys feel private, something to be kept behind closed doors. She questions how representative the new data is of diverse families, suggesting the collection method itself may create holes.
The data was compiled from existing surveys and clinical registries. El-Assaad lists critical flaws: surveys primarily in English, a lack of trauma-informed translators, and the setting where information is captured. She notes the added burden of asking marginalized people to voluntarily answer surveys while dealing with loss.
The Consequences of Missing Data
Isabelle Oderberg, founder of the Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition, pushed for the study after seven of her own losses and concerns over substandard care. She says Australia had no idea how many people experienced miscarriage or how rates trended. Information was also lacking for high-priority groups like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and new migrants.
Oderberg states data directly informs what support services governments provide and where. Currently, doctors are not required to report miscarriage, so official data is not collected.
Associate Professor Jade Bilardi from Miscarriage Australia says inclusivity must "go beyond" translating resources. It requires working directly with women, partners, and support services from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to understand their specific needs.
Laffernis hopes for greater awareness in the medical system to normalize conversations about loss. She recalls no one discussed the risk of miscarriage with her until it was imminent. She also wants dedicated post-miscarriage support, including mental health services, for all women. "I think it’s more what happens next that makes the difference."
