Ten Flemish hospitals sign charter on early pregnancy loss
Ten Flemish hospitals have signed the first collaboration charter in Flanders on early pregnancy loss, marking a significant step towards more consistent and compassionate care. The charter was signed on Friday at the Grief and Loss Continuing Life expertise centre in Oostduinkerke.
The initiative was spearheaded by Shanti Van Genechten, founder of Kinderwens ExpertiseNetwerk and the care network Sterrenkinderen (Star Children). For the past decade, Van Genechten has campaigned for better recognition and support for parents experiencing early pregnancy loss, drawing on testimonies from families who contacted her organisation.
"The fact that hospitals are signing up doesn't mean they are falling short, but rather that they want to offer streamlined care and communication," says Van Genechten. "With the charter, the hospitals confirm their commitment to making early pregnancy loss more visible and recognising it as a significant loss that deserves care, time, and expertise."
Commitments made under the charter
The charter commits hospitals to acknowledging early pregnancy loss as a life-changing event requiring visibility, personal attention and tailored care. It includes pledges to address the emotional impact on parents and families, integrate medical, emotional and psychosocial support, provide remembrance cards or similar initiatives, appoint reference persons, ensure staff training and participate in a dedicated working group to strengthen collaboration with the Sterrenkinderen network.
The signatories are UZ Brussels, AZ Oostende, Sint-Jan Brugge, AZ Vesalius Tongeren, ZOL Genk, VITAZ, Heilig Hart Hospital Lier, AZ Sint-Blasius, Sint-Dimpna Hospital Geel and AZ Mol.
Language matters: from “miscarriage” to “pregnancy loss”
In 2015, Van Genechten and Professor Manu Keirse, who co-developed the charter and serves as patron of Sterrenkinderen, advocated replacing the term “miscarriage” with “pregnancy loss”, arguing that language shapes recognition and care. The issue is deeply personal for Van Genechten, whose adoptive parents experienced pregnancy loss. "All I wanted was to move a small stone, because my parents experienced this issue themselves. I started listening to them, and after that, I never stopped listening to parents who experience early pregnancy loss."
Globally, 15 to 20 per cent of recognised pregnancies end in early pregnancy loss. According to Sterrenkinderen, the real figure is likely higher, as many losses occur before a pregnancy is even confirmed. Van Genechten notes that many parents suffer post-traumatic stress and anxiety following both the loss and their hospital experience. "Although the loss often occurs in a very early stage of pregnancy and is therefore not very visible to the outside world, the emotional impact is enormous," she adds.
"Parenthood doesn't just begin with pregnancy or the birth of your child, but with the intensity of the longing for a child," says Keirse. "There are many parents who aren't recognised as such because they don't have living children."
Through training sessions and a practical pocket guide for healthcare professionals, Van Genechten and Keirse hope the charter will translate into lasting cultural change, ensuring that early pregnancy loss is met with empathy, recognition and structured support across Flanders.
#FlandersNewsService | © SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
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