Better Care and Treatment Could Potentially Save Hundreds of Stillbirths in the UK

Half of the stillbirths can be avoided by taking better care and listening to the concerns of pregnant women, revealed a new report.

A new investigation conducted by a team of academics, clinicians and charity representatives called MBRRACE-UK from the University of Leicester looked at 85 stillbirths that took place in 2013. They found that about two-third cases could have been prevented by taking better care of women during pregnancy.

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‘More than 3,600 stillbirths occur every year in the UK and the rate remains as one of the highest across Europe.’

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The team found that most of the mothers were not offered right tests and many women have raised concerns about slowed, changed or stopped movement of babies. Experts said it was disappointing the areas of concern remained the same as those in a similar report 15 years ago.

Experts also found that women who had a risk of stillbirths due to diabetes were not properly checked fand monitored. They claimed that 50% of stillbirths cases could have been potentially avoided by better care and treatment.

Recently the health secretary of England, Jeremy Hunt has announced plans to reduce the stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths in England by 50% by 2030.

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Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists president Dr David Richmond said, "Although fewer babies in the UK are stillborn today, it's desperately disappointing that the four recommendations from this report remain exactly the same as when the last confidential inquiry took place 15 years ago."

"Today's report suggests six in 10 of these stillbirths are potentially avoidable. We can and should do better by the 1,000 families affected by stillbirths that occur before a woman goes into labor each year in the UK," he added.

Stillbirth Rates on Rise
In British Columbia, Canada, the rates of stillbirths have increased by 31% over a decade, shows study published in CMAJ.

Source-Medindia

South Asian Women at Greater Risk of Stillbirths
A recent research carried out at three Melbourne public hospitals, has pointed out that women born in South Asian countries carry a huge risk of stillbirth as compared to Australian-born women.