A Stoke-on-Trent woman who experienced two pregnancy losses was told by doctors to "just keep trying" due to NHS 'three miscarriage' rule - and nearly died when it resulted in an ectopic pregnancy.

Sophie Heath, 28, fell pregnant for the first time in 2017, but miscarried the baby at 12 weeks after heavy bleeding.

The unexplained loss was so traumatic it caused the breakdown of her relationship with her then-partner, she said.

Years on, she fell pregnant again, this time with partner Tom Clee, 26, but was heartbroken to miscarry again, at just six weeks.

Sophie, from Stoke-on-Trent, went to NHS for help but current rules state that three unsuccessful pregnancies are usually needed to trigger NHS support for fertility in England.

The couple were encouraged to "keep trying" by her GP.

In May 2025, they were delighted to fall pregnant again, cautiously hopeful they would get their miracle 'rainbow baby'.

But in June, Sophie woke to excruciating pain and heavy bleeding, and it was confirmed she had not only miscarried, but the pregnancy was ectopic.

A fertilised egg had implanted in her fallopian tube, rather than womb, and Sophie experienced life-threatening internal bleeding in the following days, requiring urgent surgery.

Her fallopian tube ruptured, causing the bleeding, and as a result, she miscarried.

The devastated couple now qualify for NHS fertility support - but are so traumatised by their losses that they are no longer trying for a child.

Sophie, a claims handler in accident management, said: "After losing two babies and then a very traumatic third loss, I'm scared to do that process again.

"Both of us are grieving still.

"With my first loss, I went to the toilet in the hospital and actually saw the baby, there in my underwear.

"And with the ectopic pregnancy, the surgeon told us if I hadn't had the surgery when I did, Tom would have woken up the next morning and found me passed away next to him.

"Now, we just can't put ourselves through the heartbreak any more. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

"Making people endure three losses before looking at what might help them actually conceive is barbaric."

Sophie was 19 when she first feel pregnant and while it was unplanned she was thrilled - until Sophie began heavily bleeding on April 15, 2017, and was rushed to hospital.

Miscarrying in the toilet at the hospital left her traumatised.

She said: "At that point I wondered if I would ever want another child - I didn't want to go through that again."

After meeting new partner Tom, the couple never learned they were pregnant in October 2023 - but when Sophie's period was heavier than normal, a scan revealed it had been a miscarriage at six weeks.

She said: "It was bittersweet because we never got the excitement of being pregnant. But I was still heartbroken.

"I tried to get in touch with NHS fertility - they said 'all we can recommend is you keep trying'."

On May 25, 2025, they were thrilled to learn they had fallen pregnant again.

But just two days after getting a positive test, Sophie began bleeding.

Doctors couldn't see the baby on a scan but reassured the worried couple that it was normal so early in the pregnancy, Sophie said.

Days later, on June 2, Sophie woke up and was bleeding again - this time very heavily.

She said: "I was in excruciating pain, and a scan confirmed I was miscarrying for the third time.

"I felt like the world swallowed me up and took me away.

"The look of sadness on my partner's face is something I'll never get out my mind."

After several more trips to and from hospital, on June 9, while already grieving their loss of their baby, named Noah, Sophie woke with severe pain on her side.

A sonographer revealed her ectopic pregnancy and told her she was bleeding internally.

She said: "I was gobsmacked. Everyone was so panicked that I started saying my goodbyes. I didn't think I'd come out alive."

Her left fallopian tube was removed but they managed to save both ovaries - although they were told it could have been fatal for Sophie.

The couple say it's now too late for the support they now qualify for.

A new pilot model for fertility support, by Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research at Birmingham Women's Hospital has been proposed, which could help couples like Sophie and Tom far sooner.

The pilot's "graded model of miscarriage care" intervenes earlier and progressively, based on evidence that many risk factors are detectable after one or two miscarriages.

While Sophie has not been given a clear explanation for her fertility struggles, she has since been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which could have been a factor.

Sophie said: "We're not pursuing NHS fertility support. If it had been caught earlier, this might not have happened.

"After two losses, it was frustrating that nobody could help me because I hadn't lost a third child.

"Why should we have to go through a third heartbreak?

"A new model is such a good opportunity to prevent women and their partners going through a devastating loss more than once.

"All I ever wanted was to be a mum but we can't put ourselves through the heartbreak any more."