A report out today says that stillbirths and deaths shortly after birth is continuing to rise with 17 babies on average being claimed daily.
Every year in the UK nearly 4,000 babies are stillborn and another 2,500 die within four weeks. The stillbirth rate has not changed for a decade.
A report, Saving Babies’ Lives Report 2009, published on 4th March by Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, backed up by new research, highlights several problem areas that are contributing to this level of baby loss, the long-lasting impact of these deaths, and recommends changes that could save babies’ lives.
The Department of Health in England said there had been an increase in midwives and consultant obstetricians, and increased investment in the field.
Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, says many deaths could be avoided by better antenatal care and more funding for research.
The facts today: -
- 17 babies die every day in the UK (10 are stillbirths, 7 are neonatal
deaths) totalling almost 6,500 baby deaths a year – the equivalent of
16 jumbo jets crashing every year. - This is four times the number of people who die every year of MRSA
(1,593 MRSA deaths in 2007, UK Statistics Authority). - This is double the number of adults who lose their lives on Britain’s
roads every year (2007 – 2,940 people were killed on the roads, Department
of Transport). - Ten times more babies are stillborn than die of cot death every year
in the UK. - The stillbirth rate has remained almost unchanged for the past 10
years. (CEMACH)
For too long these deaths have been ignored Neal Long Sands The last official enquiry by CESDI, the Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy, concluded that nearly half of all unexplained stillbirths might have been avoided with better antenatal care.
Part of the problem, says Sands, is a shortage of neonatal nurses, with 1,700 posts needing to be filled and only 14 out of 50 intensive care units in the UK providing minimum standards of one-to-one care for sick and premature babies. The charity also found that mums-to-be are not being made aware of the risks of stillbirth, with 42% of 348 mothers questioned not receiving any information on stillbirth from their midwife, even though many cases occur in low risk pregnancies.
Sands said there was a pressing need for more investment for research into the causes of these very poorly understood deaths, adding there was still a taboo surrounding the death of a baby.
A Sands survey of 270 bereaved parents found that almost half of parents (48%) did not feel that everything possible was done to save their baby’s life, they felt rushed through their antenatal appointments (36%) and not completely confident about the way in which they were cared for in the lead up to their baby’s death (49%).
The Department of Health in England said it was committed to improving outcomes for both mother and baby. A spokesperson said there had been an increase in midwives and consultant obstetricians, and increased investment in the field. “We have made some progress on outcomes. However, every avoidable stillbirth or neonatal death is one too many.” Ministers have set a target for all women to have access to needs assessment by the 12th week of pregnancy. It is hoped this will allow for individually tailored care, which could help cut stillbirths.
Some of the problems attributed to the baby deaths:-
Under-resourced maternity and neonatal services:
- Maternity services in the UK are under considerable strain from lack of resources and funding and there is strong evidence to suggest that this is contributing to baby deaths. (The last official enquiry by CESDI, Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy, found that nearly half of all unexplained stillbirths, might have been avoided with better antenatal care.)
- New evidence from a Sands survey of 270 bereaved parents found that almost half of parents (48%) did not feel that everything possible was done to save their baby’s life, they felt rushed through their antenatal appointments (36%) and not completely confident about the way in which they were cared for in the lead up to their baby’s death (49%).
- There is a severe shortage of neonatal nurses, with 1,700 posts needing
to be filled and only 14 out of 50 intensive care units in the UK providing
minimum standards of one-to-one care for sick and premature babies.
Serious shortage of funding for research to understand and prevent stillbirths:
- Half of all stillborn babies die for no apparent reason – like a ’cot death in the womb’. The cause of these deaths is very poorly understood because research work is not being funded.
- There is potential to detect the babies that are at risk of stillbirth, and deliver them early. But if work like this is to succeed we need funding for further research and trials of interventions.
- There are pockets of excellent research work but much higher levels of funding are needed to enable researchers to do the work they believe could have a real impact on reducing deaths. Lack of understanding and awareness among both prospective parents and healthcare professionals of the extent and risk of stillbirth and neonatal death:
- Sands’ new consumer survey of UK adults revealed that awareness of the level of stillbirth is low, with 75% being very surprised that the rate of stillbirth was as high as 300 babies dying every month.
- The survey also revealed that mums-to-be are not being made aware of the risks of stillbirth with 42% of mothers questioned not receiving any information on stillbirth from their midwife. Failure of current antenatal screening techniques to identify ‘at-risk’ babies;
- 50% of all stillbirths are of babies who die for apparently no reason, the majority in ‘low-risk’ pregnancies.
The Saving Babies’ Lives Report 2009 has been developed to support Sands’ Why17? campaign (launched in June 2008) to increase awareness of baby deaths and raise funds for research to answer the question ‘Why do 17 babies die every single day in the UK?’ To find out more about Sands Why17? campaign and the Saving Babies’ Lives Report 2009 please go to www.uk-sands.org
4th March 2009
