Child loss ministry calls for change in medical code describing miscarriage as “spontaneous abortion”

By: Jean Mondoro, originally published April 17, 2025, Pregnancy Help News

A Louisiana-based nonprofit has launched a petition to change the medical language surrounding miscarriages, which currently likens the natural death of an unborn child to the intentional killing of the preborn.

Red Bird Ministries was founded with the goal of providing helpful resources for parents and families who suffer the loss of a child. In its ongoing efforts to support those who have had miscarriages, the nonprofit is calling for a change to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code that describes miscarriages as “spontaneous abortions.”

The petition, which had 800 verified signatures at press time, is addressed to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). It emphasizes the “distress caused by the insensitive language used” by the ICD to describe miscarriage.

“There is a noticeable discrepancy between how doctors communicate compassionately, using phrases like ‘I’m sorry, your baby does not have a heartbeat’ or ‘I’m sorry, you are experiencing a miscarriage,’ and the clinical term ‘spontaneous abortion,’” the Change.org petition language states. “This clinical language feels cold and unnecessary.”

The petition acknowledged that “significant strides” have been made within the medical field to practice “more compassionate language” in healthcare, noting that “the same sensitivity has yet to be reflected in the ICD codes.”

But now with digital medical records patients are able to access their records without the presence of providers “to interpret or clarify the language in their records.” And this opens the door to women who are processing the grief of a miscarriage having to encounter terminology in their personal records in effect stating that they had an abortion.

“This petition calls for a compassionate revision of ICD codes, replacing the term ‘spontaneous abortion’ with ‘miscarriage,’” the text states. “This change will reduce the trauma associated with the loss of a pregnancy and support the healing process for countless women.”

Kelly Breaux, the founder of Red Bird Ministries, told Pregnancy Help News in an email exchange that the term for miscarriage in the ICD coding has always been ‘spontaneous abortion.’

The language hits close to home for Breaux, who lost her third child in a miscarriage. This loss came years after she and her husband lost twins who were born prematurely. Their son died 15 days after the sudden birth and his sister lived until she was nearly four.

However, amid the heartache they suffered with miscarrying their third child, Breaux recalled that none of the medical team who treated her during that time “ever referred to our baby or our loss as a spontaneous abortion.”

Rather, they “used compassionate language and always referred to my baby as a baby.”

During her recovery, Breaux explained that the bill and explanation of benefits (EOB) from her insurance company described the dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure to remove her dead baby as a “spontaneous abortion,” along with the corresponding ICD code. This prompted Breaux to worry that their child had actually been alive when the procedure was performed, and she called her doctor’s office to confirm that this was not the case.

“We are privileged to hear the heartache of men and women at the delivery of their baby who died in the womb at all stages of pregnancy,” Breaux told Pregnancy Help News about Red Bird Ministries’ work.

“Our team helps to accompany them through the trauma of their loss and delivery,” she said. “The medical codes used for miscarriage are very triggering to women and, given the nature of how we receive our medical records digitally, women are more likely to see the codes than before.”

When asked what counter message she would give to women suffering miscarriage, Breaux replied, “Your baby’s life mattered. Your baby had inherent dignity, was loved deeply, is worthy to be named, treasured, grieved, honored and remembered. We are sorry that you know this pain, the silent ache of miscarriage.”

Red Bird Ministries was founded in 2018 and as described by Breaux, is a “pro-life and pro-family grief support ministry” that “help[s] families dealing with the heartache of child loss of any age, and families who are impacted by suicide.”

Those suffering from child loss can contact the ministry for support through its website. Additionally, anyone interested in signing the petition can do so HERE.

Jean Mondoro is a Virginia-based news writer and journalist. She has written for various conservative, Catholic and pro-life companies, blogs and news outlets, including the Chastity Project and Check Your Fact.