International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Expectant mothers who experience complications in early pregnancy should be given greater care and supervision during their current and subsequent pregnancies, it has been claimed.

The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) says a history of one or more miscarriages nearly doubles the risk of preterm premature rupture of the membrane that surrounds the baby in the womb during an ongoing pregnancy.

In addition, the risks of premature or very premature delivery - earlier than 37 or 34 weeks respectively - are also greatly increased, it is claimed.

Dr Robbert van Oppenraaij told the 25th annual meeting of ESHRE that where three or more miscarriages have occurred, such conditions are more likely in any future pregnancy.

The risk of placenta praevia - where the placenta partially or completely blocks the cervix - also increases six-fold and congenital malformations almost two-fold, he added.

Dr van Oppenraaij commented: "While it is true that most conditions are difficult to prevent, with improved monitoring in high risk pregnancies it is possible to reduce perinatal or postnatal foetal complications.

"For the clinician it is important to interpret the symptoms and understand not only the short-term consequences, but also the long-term consequences of these early pregnancy complications."

Latest figures from the UK Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health Perinatal Mortality Surveillance Report 2007 showed improvements in the stillbirth and neonatal death rates in the UK.