NHS England has published a new version of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle as part of its ongoing drive to reduce the rates of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal death and brain injuries.
Sands has long recognised that improving public health is an important aspect of preventing baby deaths.
Our Chief Executive, Clea Harmer, said: “We welcome the latest Saving Babies' Lives Care Bundle as the next step towards meeting the Government’s commitment to halve stillbirths and neonatal baby deaths by 2025. This second version carries essential information for every healthcare professional who supports and works with pregnant women, and will help provide safer care to protect babies’ lives and ensure fewer families suffer grief and loss.
“Listening to bereaved parents is vital in understanding why babies die, and parents tell Sands that this can help them live with their grief. So we are pleased to see that learning from every baby’s death is an integral part of the continual improvement that underpins this Care Bundle.
“This new version of the Saving Babies' Lives Care Bundle provides an important focus on preterm birth, and encourages women to understand the risks and recognise the warning signs associated with baby loss to ensure they and their babies are as safe as possible during pregnancy.”
The Care Bundle was introduced in 2015, and is designed to reduce stillbirth and early neonatal death. It brings together four elements of care that are recognised as evidence-based and/or best practice:
- Reducing smoking in pregnancy
- Risk assessment and surveillance for fetal growth restriction
- Raising awareness of reduced fetal movement
- Effective fetal monitoring during labour.
For more information on staying healthy and keeping you and your baby safe in pregnancy visit the Safer Pregnancy website.