Cherie Blair's miscarriage

Cherie and Tony Blair pictured last week in Cumbria

The Prime Minister's wife, Cherie Blair, is continuing to recover at home following her miscarriage.

She was admitted to hospital on Monday night after being taken ill at Downing Street.

She was discharged yesterday morning following an operation.

click here to watch our interview with Sailesh Kumar

Breakfast spoke to Sailesh Kumar, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Queen Charlotte's Hospital. He said:

"It is not unusual for women of this age to have miscarriages."

it's not that unusual for women in their late 40s to have a miscarriage. Older women have irregular periods and they think they won't conceive and therefore don't take precautions and end up getting pregnant. Older women usually have miscarriages early on, i.e., within 10 weeks, and they tend to be because of chromosomal abnormalities of the foetus. Abnormalities like Down's Syndrome are the most common reason, there is a 1 in 30 chance of miscarriage due to Down's. When the miscarriage is early the foetus is flushed out of the body almost altogether.

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Mrs Blair, 47, was admitted to hospital after being taken ill in Downing Street on Monday night and was discharged on Tuesday morning following an operation.

Tony Blair was with his wife and Mrs Blair is now resting at the Prime Minister's country retreat, Chequers.

The couple have delayed their departure for a holiday in France, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.

Flowers from well-wishers are delivered to Downing Street

Mrs Blair gave birth to the couple's fourth child Leo in May 2000. He was the first baby born to a British prime minister for more than a century.

Leo is understood to be with the older children, Euan, Nicky and Kathryn, in France with Cherie's mother Gale.

Quiet holiday

Downing Street said the couple wanted to thank staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, where the operation took place under general anaesthetic, for their support and care.

Mrs Blair came through the operation successfully and is resting and will join the rest of the family later in France for what they hope will be a quiet holiday, then spokesman said.

Tony and Cherie Blair with baby Leo in 2001

Downing Street added that, while they understood the inevitable interest, they hoped the media would allow the Prime Minister and his family to enjoy as normal a family holiday as possible.

Mrs Blair, who will be 48 next month, is understood to have known that she was pregnant.

Lunch with Leo

The Blairs spent the end of last week and the weekend in the North West, attending the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on Sunday evening.

Facing the media on Friday, Mrs Blair looked relaxed and happy in St Bees, Cumbria, with her husband.

The Blairs at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday

She fielded questions from reporters while posing for pictures as she sheltered under a large umbrella held by Mr Blair.

The Prime Minister's wife was dressed in just a summer jacket, blouse and white trousers.

She said she had enjoyed a pub lunch with Leo and had been to see a bird of prey show.

At the closing ceremony of the games in Manchester Mrs Blair wore a plastic rain mac - but her spirits were not dampened as she clapped and sang along with the other 38,000 spectators at the stadium.

Messages

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said: "I am very sorry to hear the news for Tony and Cherie and hope people will respect their privacy."

Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and his wife Betsy sent flowers to Downing Street with a note wishing Mrs Blair a full recovery.

A spokeswoman for Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said: "Charles Kennedy is still on his honeymoon but I know he will be shocked and saddened by what has happened and would want to offer the Prime Minister his deepest sympathy and condolences.

"This is a desperately painful thing to happen to the Blairs and Mr Kennedy would also want to wish Mrs Blair as speedy a recovery as possible."