Revolutionary Maternity Drug Pilot Secures Funding to Save Mothers’ Lives

Published on: 29/01/2025

A groundbreaking maternity initiative at Broomfield Hospital is set to reduce heavy bleeding after childbirth, following a crucial £5,000 grant from Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity. This two-year pilot involves using a fast-acting drug called Fibrinogen to help manage postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) more effectively—an urgent health concern affecting over 50,000 women in the UK every year and a leading cause of maternal death.

A New Way to Combat Postpartum Haemorrhage
PPH occurs when a mother loses more than a litre of blood after delivery. Despite major advancements in obstetric care, maternal outcomes related to PPH have not improved across the UK in over 15 years. This new pilot looks to change that.

Fibrinogen offers several advantages over traditional blood transfusions:

  • Faster Action: It works more quickly to stabilise blood loss.
  • Easier Storage: Unlike large volumes of blood transfusion products, Fibrinogen can be stored more efficiently.
  • Fewer Side Effects: The drug is associated with fewer complications compared to standard transfusions.
  • Community Acceptance: Crucially, it’s an option for women who, for faith or other reasons, would normally decline blood products.

“The introduction of Fibrinogen at Broomfield is particularly exciting because, as well as improving clinical outcomes, it reduces the time mums might be separated from their babies during a postpartum emergency,” explains Dr. Samantha Brayshaw, Anaesthetics Consultant at Broomfield Hospital. “Thanks to the generous donation from the Charity, we’ve been able to purchase this medication which can improve the speed at which we treat women bleeding after childbirth.”

Improving Recovery, Supporting Bonding
Beyond saving lives, the Fibrinogen pilot aims to preserve that vital bonding time between mother and baby during the first moments and days after birth. Minimising postpartum blood loss means reduced medical intervention, potentially fewer complications, and a shorter hospital stay—allowing mothers to focus on their physical recovery and emotional well-being.

Dr. Brayshaw adds, “Because this advancement offers safer and faster care, it also reduces the potential time mums are separated from their babies during the all-important bonding period following birth, by preventing or significantly reducing the amount of time spent apart.”

Community Donations Make It Possible
Initiatives like this can only be launched through the steadfast support of the Mid & South Essex Hospitals Charity’s donors. Communities surrounding Basildon, Broomfield, and Southend hospitals play a vital role in ensuring such innovative projects come to life.

For a maternity unit striving to provide the best care for mothers and babies, this pilot marks a significant step forward. If the results in Broomfield mirror the promising findings from earlier studies in Wales—where Fibrinogen proved both clinically beneficial and cost-effective—it could pave the way for a new standard in postpartum care across the country.

 

How You Can Help
MAMA Academy, the safer pregnancy charity, strongly believes in supporting medical advancements that safeguard the lives of mothers and babies. If you’d like to learn more about postpartum haemorrhage or discover ways to contribute to projects like the Fibrinogen pilot, please visit MAMA Academy’s website or the Mid & South Essex Hospitals Charity.

Your support can make all the difference in ensuring that no mother goes without the care she needs to have a safe and healthy pregnancy—and to build the strongest foundation for her newborn’s future.