Stillbirth Priority Setting Partnership conclusions

Published on: 04/05/2015

The Stillbirth Priority Setting Partnership which included our own representatives here at MAMA Academy, have met to discuss the results of 18 months of research.  The research was gathered from doctors, midwives, parents, third sector organisations, funders and pathologists.  From over 1,000 potential research topics this has been narrowed down to eleven priority areas:

 

How can the structure and function of the placenta be assessed during pregnancy to detect potential problems and reduce the risk of stillbirth?

Does ultrasound assessment of foetal growth in the third trimester reduce stillbirth?

Do modifiable ‘lifestyle’ factors (e.g. diet, vitamin deficiency, obesity, sleep position, sleep apnoea, lifting and bending) cause or contribute to stillbirth?

Which investigations identify a foetus which is at risk of stillbirth after a mother believes she has experienced reduced foetal movements?

Can the wider use of existing tests and monitoring procedures, especially in later pregnancy, and the development and implementation of novel tests (biomarkers) in the mother or in early pregnancy, help prevent stillbirth?

What causes stillbirth in normally grown babies?

What is the most appropriate bereavement and post natal care for both parents following a stillbirth?

Which antenatal care interventions are associated with a reduction in the number of stillbirths?

Would empowering women to know about relevant evidence-based signs and symptoms and raise them with healthcare professionals reduce stillbirth?

How can staff support women and their partners in subsequent pregnancies, using a holistic approach, to reduce anxiety, stress and any associated increased visits to healthcare settings?

Why is the incidence of stillbirth in the UK higher than in other similar high-income countries and what lessons can we learn from them?

 

These areas will now be used to set priorities for future research and used to target funding.

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