Our Response to the Preventable Baby Loss Debate

At MAMA Academy, we are deeply committed to tackling preventable baby loss. The recent Parliamentary debate on this critical issue has highlighted many of the same challenges we have long worked to address: gaps in education and training, stark inequalities in maternity care, and the need for urgent action to save the lives of babies across the UK. As an organisation dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes, we want to offer our solutions to the government to help bridge these gaps and ensure that every family has access to the best possible care.

We believe that with the right tools, education, and policies in place, we can work together to reduce preventable stillbirths and neonatal deaths. Our manifesto aligns closely with the concerns raised in Parliament, and we offer our resources, expertise, and commitment to helping the government drive meaningful change in maternity care.

Educating Healthcare Professionals to Save Lives

One of the key issues raised in the debate was the need for better education and training for healthcare professionals. This is a critical area that we at MAMA Academy have always championed. The Parliamentary discussion stressed that too many preventable losses occur because staff lack the training or confidence to follow guidelines and act quickly when needed.

To address this, MAMA Academy will soon be launching Tailored Stillbirth Reduction Strategies that provide healthcare trusts with practical, evidence-based tools to improve their maternity services. These strategies include staff training, toolkits, and access to our best practice network, which enables professionals to learn from others and continuously improve their approach to care. We strongly believe that by equipping healthcare staff with the right training and resources, we can empower them to intervene earlier and more effectively, saving countless babies’ lives.

As highlighted in the Ockenden Report, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of maternity services is paramount. We fully support the government’s focus on continuous professional development and training, and we are ready to help implement these recommendations. MAMA Academy’s resources are designed to ensure that healthcare professionals are up to date with the latest guidelines, and that they have the skills they need to provide safe, compassionate, and effective care.

Tackling Inequality in Maternity Care

The disparity in outcomes for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) families was another key issue raised in the debate. The higher rates of stillbirth and neonatal death in these communities are heartbreaking and unacceptable. We share the government’s commitment to addressing this inequality, and we believe that targeted, culturally sensitive education is the key to making a real difference.

MAMA Academy is already leading the way in offering Targeted Resources for Marginalised Communities. These resources provide culturally relevant information for Black and Brown-skinned parents,this resource includes information on perineal massage, signs of jaundice and advocation which is specifically tailored for the black and brown skinned community. As well as for LGBTQIA+ families and the Travelling Community, ensuring that every expectant parent receives the support and guidance they need, no matter their background. Our aim is to eliminate the disparities that too often lead to worse outcomes for marginalised communities.

Furthermore, our Public Health Campaigns focus on raising awareness in underserved communities about the importance of prenatal care, nutrition, and recognising warning signs in pregnancy. By offering this vital education in a culturally sensitive and accessible way, we can help close the gap in maternity outcomes between different communities. We call on the government to make this a priority and to support the implementation of these targeted interventions nationwide.

Empowering Parents with Knowledge

During the debate, education was rightly identified as a crucial tool for reducing preventable baby loss—not only for healthcare professionals but also for parents. Empowering parents to monitor their baby’s health and take action when needed is one of the most effective ways to prevent stillbirths and neonatal deaths. This is why MAMA Academy has developed the Wellbeing Wallets and Pregnancy Passports, which provide expectant parents with vital information about foetal movements, antenatal appointments, and warning signs to watch out for.

Research, including the AFFIRM study, has shown that educating parents about foetal movements can significantly reduce the risk of stillbirth by promoting earlier detection of potential problems. Our Wellbeing Wallets give parents the confidence and knowledge they need to monitor their baby’s wellbeing, and we have seen firsthand how this simple tool can make a profound difference.

We urge the government to prioritise the distribution of these resources to all pregnant women, particularly those in at-risk or underserved communities. By putting these tools in the hands of every expectant parent, we can empower families to play an active role in their pregnancy care, leading to better outcomes and fewer preventable losses.

Using Data to Drive Better Outcomes

Parliament also emphasised the importance of collecting comprehensive data to identify gaps in care and target interventions more effectively. MAMA Academy supports this wholeheartedly. We believe that data-driven decision-making is key to improving maternity services, particularly when it comes to addressing inequalities in care.

Through our Tailored Stillbirth Reduction Strategies, we will work closely with healthcare trusts to analyse their specific data and identify areas for improvement. This allows us to develop strategies that are not only evidence-based but also tailored to the unique challenges faced by different regions and communities. By supporting trusts in implementing these strategies, we can help ensure that the right interventions are in place where they are needed most.

 Our Call to Action

At MAMA Academy, we want to continue working with the government and healthcare trusts to reduce preventable baby loss. The recent Parliamentary debate has brought these urgent issues into the spotlight, and we hope that this momentum leads to real action.

We offer our resources, expertise, and an ongoing commitment to improving maternity care, and we call on the government to take the following steps:

1. Improve healthcare professional education by supporting our tailored training programs and stillbirth reduction strategies.
2. Address inequality in maternity care by expanding access to our culturally sensitive resources for Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA+ parents, ensuring that every parent receives the care they deserve.
3. Empower parents by ensuring that every expectant parent has access to our Wellbeing Wallets or Pregnancy Passports, so they can monitor their baby’s health and take action when needed.
4. Use data to drive change by supporting comprehensive data collection and analysis, allowing for targeted interventions that improve outcomes for all families.

We urge MPs and policymakers to consider MAMA Academy’s proven solutions and help us on our mission to save lives. Together, we can ensure that every parent and baby, regardless of their background, has the best chance for a healthy and safe pregnancy.

Let’s work together to prevent the preventable.