Five X More’s Post

Over 800 babies' lives may have been saved with better care in 2022 - 2023. This is one of the key findings in the second annual Saving Babies' Lives Progress Report, published by our Joint Policy Unit with Sands - baby loss charity. We believe everyone deserves a safe and healthy pregnancy and birth. And through this report, we're holding the Government to account for the change needed to save babies' lives. The Government's promise to increase spending on maternity and neonatal services is not enough. Based on the report findings, here are 5 priorities the current, and future, Government need to action: 1. Renew targets to reduce stillbirth, neonatal deaths and preterm birth rates 2. Commit to tackling inequalities in pregnancy and baby loss 3. Deliver a fully funded workforce - make a clear plan with enough funding and resources to support it 4. Put in place a system that supports safe care 5. Provide the best possible support throughout pregnancy and following loss. Read the report: https://bit.ly/3ymezrB #BabyLoss 

It's crucial to prioritize your health and that of your baby during pregnancy. To minimize the risk of birth defects, it's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, avoid unauthorized substances and medications, be aware of your risk factors, and attend regular prenatal check-ups. While these measures are essential for minimizing risks, it's vital to seek advice from your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about your baby's development. At the You Matter Charity Foundation, we're dedicated to ensuring the health and well-being of every individual, particularly the healthy growth and development of our children. #YouMatter #HealthyBabies

🌟💼 Pioneering Well-being Advance: Introducing Baby Loss Certificates in England 💼🌟 I am thrilled to share a groundbreaking stride forward in well-being: the introduction of Baby Loss Certificates in England. This pivotal initiative, spearheaded by ministers and propelled by the heartfelt pleas of bereaved parents, signifies a monumental leap in acknowledging the profound impact of early pregnancy loss on mental and emotional health. Why It's a Game-Changer for Well-being: - Empathy at the Core: By bestowing certificates for babies lost before 24 weeks of pregnancy, England is fostering empathy and recognition for the silent grief endured by millions of families. These certificates serve as tangible tokens of acknowledgment, offering solace and validation to those navigating unimaginable loss. - Fostering Dialogue: The unveiling of baby loss certificates encourages open conversations surrounding pregnancy loss, nurturing understanding and compassion within workplaces and communities alike. This initiative plays a pivotal role in destigmatising a topic that affects numerous individuals annually, promoting mental and emotional well-being. - Comprehensive Support: This pioneering initiative dovetails with broader efforts to bolster NHS care and support for parents grappling with the complexities of early pregnancy loss. It underscores a commitment to enhancing mental health resources and fostering a more compassionate healthcare system, prioritising the holistic well-being of individuals and families. - A Catalyst for Hope: Beyond being a mere administrative measure, the introduction of baby loss certificates serves as a beacon of hope for families navigating profound grief. It embodies a powerful message of solidarity and compassion, spotlighting the pivotal role of empathy in cultivating well-being across all facets of life. Read more about this transformative stride on BBC News. #empathy #wellbeing #BabyLossCertificates #CommunitySupport #Compassion #MentalHealthAwareness #Healthcare #HolisticWellness #linkedinimpact #SocialProgress

To mark the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week, the Government has announced they're offering baby loss certificates for any family who's lost a baby before 24 weeks, no matter when their loss happened. Previously, the certificates were only available to those who'd been through loss since 1 September 2018. But from today, the certificates will be available to all England residents aged 16+ who've sadly lost a baby before 24 weeks. We know this will be welcome news for many families, and a fitting way to enter Baby Loss Awareness Week as we've heard from you, our community, how important it is to have a way of recognising your losses and much-loved babies. And while this is positive news, we believe more needs to be done to formally count miscarriages in the UK, which is what we've been calling on the Government to do since 2021. We'll also carry on working alongside other organisations to push for the certificates to be made available for bereaved parents elsewhere in the UK. Kate Davies, our Associate Director of Information and Support, said: “The extension of the certificate scheme will allow those parents to seek at least some comfort through a formal recognition of their loss, however many years it may be since their lives were changed by it. “We know the scheme has already made a difference to thousands of people who have experienced pregnancy loss since 2018 and who might previously have felt their babies were forgotten in the world. “We’ll continue to call for more fundamental changes to tackle the wider problem of baby loss – including improvements to miscarriage care and a Government commitment to gather and record UK-wide miscarriage statistics." For more information on the certificates, visit: https://bit.ly/48qK53O Or, find support as we begin BLAW: https://bit.ly/2MmM3OQ #BLAW #BabyLossCertificates

It was a privilege to be part of the Pregnancy and Baby Loss session this afternoon, where we heard from Sands, (the baby loss charity) that 15% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Whilst the numbers are shocking, the silence around pregnancy and baby loss makes it hard for employees to ask for support. Colleagues struggle to find the words to support them in the workplace often preferring to stay silent, rather than say the wrong thing. Many thanks to Hannah Peck and Clare Haycock from Sands for supporting the session and sharing the resources to supporting colleagues returning to the workplace. https://lnkd.in/e6tmgu2N This week also marks the launch of Wates Group Pregnancy and Baby loss policy. The policy provides 2 weeks’ paid leave to help navigate the emotional impact of the loss. This leave is separate (and in addition) to any medical leave that you might need to take, if recommended by your GP. Leave can be taken as one block of leave or in multiple blocks of half-day or day(s). As someone who has experienced pregnancy loss this is an important step in supporting colleagues manage their grief and the emotional impact of pregnancy and baby loss alongside the physical loss. For my Wates colleagues please check out the Operating Framework for the new policy. Please seek free support and counselling from specialists at Sands https://lnkd.in/eNnkjra9 #PregnancyLoss #BabyLoss #BabyLossPolicy #WorkplaceSupport #Sands #Miscarriage #Stillbirth

🌺 It’s Black Baby Loss Awareness Week and we are grateful to share this post from Instagram Tommy's “Our babies are more than a statistic.” Why do we need Black Baby Loss Awareness Week? This week is Black Baby Loss Awareness Week, founded by Tommy’s midwife midwife_alicia. The week exists to raise awareness in Black communities of the support they can access during and after pregnancy and loss. Unfortunately, Black women and birthing people are at higher risk of pregnancy complications and loss compared to White women. This includes a higher risk of stillbirth, miscarriage and postnatal depression. But, Black families are the least likely to access support or treatment after pregnancy. Compared to White parents, they are: - more than twice as likely to have a stillbirth, - 40% more likely to have a miscarriage, - more likely to have postnatal depression, - the least likely to access support or treatment after birth. This is why, during Black Baby Loss Awareness Week, @blackbabylossawareness will be sharing organisations, charities and communities that provide support for Black families after loss. Here at Tommy’s, we believe everyone deserves the same opportunity for a safe pregnancy and birth. We know Black families are at a higher risk of complications, and want to do more to help. That’s why we launched our helpline for Black and Black Mixed-Heritage women and birthing people. And since then, our midwives have taken almost 500 calls from families in need of support: “I just wanted to say thank you so much for your lovely email. In sad moments i have referred back to this and re-read your words and it really helps.” Our dedicated helpline is available on weekdays, 9-5, and you can book a slot via the link in our bio. Our support resources are also available 24/7 at tommys.org. #BabyLoss

It might sound silly to a lot of people that someone would want a certificate for a miscarriage. What they might not understand is that, for a lot of us who’ve experienced early pregnancy loss, there is no “proof” we were ever pregnant. Not that we need to prove this to anyone, but it’s hard when you’re pregnancy ends and you have no mementos of it. No scans, no leaflets… only maybe home pregnancy tests that will fade overtime or digital ones that will turn off once the batteries run out. For a lot of us, having such a thing is the acknowledgment we need. The acknowledgment that the pregnancy existed and was real, and that, no matter how early, it was a loss. Hopefully, the next step is to extend this further than England and start collecting miscarriage statistics appropriately.

#BLAW2024 - Baby Loss Awareness Week 2024 - the 22nd year of bringing a community together who have experienced baby loss. Baby loss in the UK affects thousands of families, and every year causes them heartbreak and trauma. It is estimated that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss during pregnancy and approximately 60,000.00 babies are born prematurely each year. We DP Medical Law are supporting #BLAW2024, please read my article on how you can help raise awareness. #BLAW #BLAW2024 #Babylossawarenessweek #waveoflight #1in4

This week is World Doula Week and we are honored to support these incredible individuals.   Doulas fulfill an important role at all stages of pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care. They’re nonmedical professionals trained to provide physical, emotional and informational support, becoming a steadfast partner for the mother and the family throughout the journey.   They’re able to develop relationships with families that are deeper than with a doctor. And because the doula is with a family from pregnancy through postpartum, there’s an opportunity early on to talk about safe sleep and the benefits of breastfeeding.   A healthy mother increases the chances for a healthy baby, and recent studies are indicating that doulas can reduce the risk of adverse maternal health outcomes, especially among women whose socioeconomic or health characteristics place them at higher risk for maternal mortality and morbidity. Doula care may result in less labor, fewer caesarian sections, and reduced rates of infant low birth weight and preterm birth.   This matters; the U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world, and the rate for Black maternal mortality is nearly three times that for white birthing people.   This is why we include doulas in our Let’s Talk Community Chats.   And, if loss should occur, the doula is there. A bereavement doula provides support to families experiencing infant loss, whether from miscarriage, stillbirth, or a diagnosis that means the baby will not survive long after being delivered. The doula can counsel and comfort the family, be sensitive to their emotional and cultural needs, and be a steady presence during a difficult time.   We’re encouraged to see that the role of doulas is on the rise. A growing number of states are supporting certification, training, Medicaid reimbursement plans, and the federal government is expanding doula funding. In this age of underserved communities and hospital deserts this is essential. #doulas #worlddoulaweek #healthequity #birthjustice #maternalhealth #infanthealth

🌟 Exciting Impact Alert: MAMA Academy's Wellbeing Wallets 🌟 We're thrilled to share the profound impact of our Wellbeing Wallet initiative, a cornerstone of our commitment to maternal health. Since their introduction in 2014, the Wellbeing Wallets have become a vital tool in empowering expectant parents with crucial safer pregnancy messages, distributed during their booking appointment via community midwives across London. An audit, conducted by esteemed professionals including Nicola Mackintosh and Professor Jane Sandall, highlighted the wallets' significant role in improving pregnancy outcomes. Key findings revealed: ✔️Over 70% of parents, primarily in their third trimester, regularly used the wallets. ✔️A significant number reported the wallets prompted their visit to assessment units for critical concerns like reduced baby movements and pre-eclampsia signs. ✔️The wallets have been praised for their clarity and accessibility, especially valuable for those for whom English is a second language. This initiative aligns with national efforts to reduce stillbirth rates, showing a tangible decrease in such incidents across participating NHS Trusts. Our aim is to extend this life-saving tool across all NHS Trusts, in line with NHS England's ambition to halve stillbirth rates by 2025. Your support can save lives. Consider donating to help us expand the reach of our Wellbeing Wallets and make a lasting difference in maternal health. Together, we can empower more parents with the knowledge they need for safer pregnancies. For more information or to receive a free sample for your organisation, please contact us at contact@mamaacademy.org.uk. #MAMAAcademy #WellbeingWallets #MaternalHealth #PregnancySafety #HealthcareInnovation