New scheme to empower parents in battle to reduce stillbirths

Queensland Health is set to launch a project to reduce the number of stillbirths in the state, with the rate unchanged in Australia over the last 20 years.

QUEENSLAND Health is set to launch a statewide project to reduce preventable stillbirths by 20 per cent by 2022 and the emphasis is on teaching mother’s to trust their own intuition.

Each day in Australia six babies are stillborn and that rate has remained unchanged over the last 20 years.

The majority of stillbirths do not have a major congenital abnormality, so clear opportunities for prevention exist, says Kirstine Sketcher-Baker, Executive Director Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Service.

“Stillbirth affects mothers and fathers, their families, health services, society, and governments. It is a serious public health problem with far reaching psychosocial and financial burden.

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On average, six babies are stillborn in Australia each day.

Queensland Health has partnered with the Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence (Stillbirth CRE) to roll out the Safer Baby Bundle (SBB) across all hospital and health service antenatal services,” she said.

Within Queensland, it is anticipated the scheme would result in 80 less families a year experiencing a stillbirth.

Ashleigh Rousseaux state manager of SANDS in Queensland, a volunteer-based organisation providing support to parents following the death of a baby, said the Safer Baby Bundle would be empowering for all parents.

“Transparent communication with parents on what they can do to reduce their risk of stillbirth is essential,” Ms Rousseaux said.

“Feeling confident that they’ve been well informed and knowing the steps they can take to reduce their risk of stillbirth can be really empowering for parents,” she said.

The Safer Baby Bundle is aimed at reducing the number of preventable stillbirths. Picture: iStock

Ms Rousseaux said it was great to see the emphasis on trusting a mother’s intuition.

“Too often we see women second guessing their instincts or not wanting to be a nuisance but information is key to reducing the rates of preventable stillbirth,” she said.

Research shows that a pregnant women going to sleep on her side from 28 weeks of pregnancy could halve the risk of stillbirth.

“Four to seven per cent of stillbirths can be prevented by not smoking during pregnancy,” Ms Sketcher-Baker said.

She says foetal movement and changing movements was also a priority.

“If you’re at all concerned about the baby’s movements phone the hospital. We’d rather you phoned than be sitting worrying at home,” she said.

Women should continue to feel the baby move right up to the time they go into labour and during labour.