Singer and advocate Myleene Klass has turned the pain of experiencing four miscarriages into a powerful force for change. After spending four years campaigning, she has successfully convinced the government to implement new measures in the Women’s Health Strategy. One of the changes includes ensuring that women do not have to endure multiple miscarriages before receiving the necessary help, a firsthand issue that Klass has personally faced.
The Department of Health and Social Care recently announced a package of new measures aimed at improving the health and well-being of women and girls. One of the key initiatives is a pilot scheme that will provide medical intervention for women after every miscarriage. Klass, who has been a strong advocate for women’s health, expressed her pride in achieving this milestone, as it means others will no longer have to go through the same “hell” she experienced, which was captured in her Bafta-nominated film “Myleene Klass: Miscarriage And Me.”
In an interview, Klass shared, “I’ve turned the pain into power, and so much good has come from it. My daughter refers to them as her angel brothers and sisters, as if they have a voice. While I never wanted to go through this experience, I have managed to find meaning in it, benefiting so many others.”
Reflecting on her journey as a campaigner, Klass acknowledged that she never envisioned herself taking on this role until she met Labour MP Olivia Blake. Inspired by Blake’s bravery in sharing her own miscarriage experience in Parliament, Klass and Blake united their grief and determination to challenge the status quo. The unexpected alliance between a politician and a broadcaster mom proved successful in bringing about change.
The three-month pilot scheme, known as the “graded model” of miscarriage, will be launched by Tommy’s Miscarriage Centre at Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital. This initiative aims to provide testing and advice to women after their first, second, or third miscarriage, enabling the identification of any medical conditions and the prevention of further loss. The outcomes of the pilot will be evaluated by the government at the end of the year.
Klass expressed her delight and disbelief over the positive changes, stating, “With these changes, no woman will have to wait for three miscarriages like I did before they receive help. It means that immediate assistance will be available after the first miscarriage, testing will be conducted after the second, and if a third miscarriage occurs, women will have access to a consultant who can provide help.”
While celebrating this victory, Klass also expressed her desire to see the recording of miscarriages added to the bill of change in the future. The implementation of these new measures follows a published pregnancy loss review, which examined ways to enhance NHS gynecology and maternity care.
Minister for women’s health Maria Caulfield extended her gratitude to the women who tirelessly campaigned for change and commended the review leads, Zoe Clark-Coates and Samantha Collinge, for their important work. She emphasized that the government remains committed to supporting women through the challenges of pregnancy loss and will continue investing in world-class healthcare.
