Individuals experiencing early pregnancy concerns and loss may face uncertainty about where to seek care, what to expect, and how to navigate follow‑up across care settings. PCMCH supports more consistent, accessible and patient‑centred early pregnancy care across Ontario, informed by evidence, clinical expertise and lived experience.
This patient-facing resource is intended for individuals experiencing early pregnancy symptoms such as pain, bleeding, or uncertainty about how a pregnancy is progressing. It provides clear, accessible information to help individuals navigate the healthcare system, understand what follow-up may be necessary, and become familiar with common medical terms used during early pregnancy assessment. It also clarifies when urgent or emergent care is needed and provides additional information on emotional, cultural and community supports. This resource aims to improve access to timely and appropriate early pregnancy care across a range of settings, including emergency departments, primary care, and Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinics.
Available in: English, French (Français), Simplified Chinese (简体中文), Traditional Chinese (繁體中文), Arabic (عربى), Italian (Italiano), Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ), Spanish (Español)
We encourage healthcare providers, hospitals, clinics, and community partners to share this resource widely to support early recognition, timely follow up, and patient centered care during early pregnancy. This resource is for general information only and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individuals should contact their healthcare provider for guidance about their specific situation. In Ontario, you can also call 811 to connect with a registered nurse for confidential health advice 24 hours a day.
On October 8, 2024, a diverse group of healthcare professionals, government representatives and individuals with lived experience convened to participate in the workshop aimed to collaboratively explore solutions for improving care for individuals experiencing early pregnancy complications and loss in Ontario. Co-hosted by PCMCH, the Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Network, and the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario, this event highlighted the importance of innovative solutions and implementation pathways to improve care across the province.
This workshop brought together individuals representing rural, remote and urban areas, as well as community and tertiary centres, to explore the lived experiences of individuals and examine a variety of existing and innovative care models currently in practice. Presentations described how these models align with the recommendations set forth in the Quality Standard for Early Pregnancy Complications and Loss: Care for Adults in All Settings and identified gaps where improvements are needed. Participants shared key insights and strategies and collaborated to develop actionable recommendations to enhance the quality of care for individuals and families experiencing early pregnancy complications and loss.
Read the Summary Report for the Early Pregnancy Complications and Loss Workshop.
In 2017, PCMCH, in partnership with Health Quality Ontario and the Champlain Maternal Newborn Regional Program, developed recommendations for emergency department (ED) healthcare providers and staff in providing compassionate care to people experiencing an early pregnancy loss in the ED.
It is estimated that one in five pregnant individuals will experience an early pregnancy loss, defined as a loss that occurs at less than 20 weeks into the pregnancy. Experiencing a pregnancy loss can be a very emotional and traumatic time for expectant parents. When patients experience the symptoms of an early pregnancy loss they frequently seek medical care in an ED. Since these cases represent a small proportion of total ED visits (less than one percent), healthcare providers and other staff in the ED may not have as much experience addressing the emotional and bereavement needs that commonly accompany this experience.
The physical and emotional care that healthcare providers can offer to individuals experiencing an early pregnancy loss has an important impact on their long-term emotional well-being. As such, it is critical that healthcare providers working in EDs attend to the patients’ psychological and emotional needs in an empathetic, caring environment. Compassionate care acknowledges pregnancy loss as a loss of life and considers the spiritual, emotional and cultural expressions of the pain that accompanies the loss of a baby.
Resources: Early Pregnancy Loss
- Discharge Teaching for Patients Experiencing an Early Pregnancy Loss
- List of Pregnancy Loss Resources for Families and Healthcare Providers
- Normal Grief Response: Dyer Model of Grief
- Suggested content for Bereavement Package and Mementoes
- Dos and Don’ts: Communicating with Families Experiencing a Pregnancy Loss
- Communication Strategies for Breaking Bad News: Sample Frameworks
- Bereavement Checklist
