Campaign wants to reduce stillbirths

FEWER LOSSES: Rates of stillbirth have decreased throughout New Zealand since 2007, which the Perinatal & Maternal Mortality Review Committee puts down to more women accessing good care.

Fewer babies are "born sleeping" throughout the country - but those working with bereaved parents say help is needed for Wairarapa's most isolated families.

The 2014 report of the Perinatal & Maternal Mortality Review Committee showed a nationwide decrease in stillbirths (past 20 weeks' gestation) of 8 per cent between 2007 and 2012.

The committee has found numbers of stillbirths have fallen by a further 4 per cent over the past two years.

To further prevent stillbirth regionally, Wairarapa DHB will shortly launch a campaign encouraging women to be more aware of foetal movements.

Committee member and SANDS Wairarapa co-ordinator Linda Penlington, who supports families bereaved by baby loss, says the statistics show more women are heeding anti-smoking messages and accessing antenatal care.

"A decrease of 8 per cent translates to about 30 Kiwi families each year who won't need support from places like SANDS," Ms Penlington said.

But, as SANDS Wairarapa co-ordinator, she still assists "at least" eight families who have lost a baby past 20 weeks - and getting to antenatal care early can be a barrier for some Wairarapa mothers-to-be.

Women in rural areas are most vulnerable, she said.

"When it comes to stillbirth, one of the biggest risks is not getting antenatal care soon enough.

"But, it can be hard getting to a midwife when you live rurally - when you can't afford the bus or train, and you can't find anyone to mind your other children while you travel."

This is made more difficult as there are now fewer independent midwives working in the community.

"There are plenty available through the hospital - but how are you going to get into Masterton for checks, when you're out in Pirinoa or Whareama?

"These are the women we need to be focussing on."

Other barriers for women can be not knowing antenatal care is free, or being afraid to admit they are still smoking or drinking.

For these women, said Ms Penlington, early care was vital, as a lead maternity carer (midwife, GP, or obstetrician) could refer them to smoking cessation services and other health providers.

These included providers such as mental health or police support, in some cases.

Wairarapa DHB's maternity unit has run a variety of educational programmes to prevent stillbirth. These include last year's "Five in 10" programme, encouraging the "five most important things to do" in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy: eating healthily, exercising, being smoke free, registering with a lead maternity carer, and getting first trimester screening tests.

Charge midwife manager Alison Andrews said the unit did not have "one single mum turn up" who was not registered with a lead maternity carer that year.

This year, the DHB is launching a campaign to encourage women to seek help if they detect any changes in their unborn babies' movements.

Midwife educator Michelle Thomas said a North Island DHB ran a similar campaign, which resulted in dramatically reduced stillbirths related to reduced foetal movements in the region.

The programme will be officially launched in the lead up to mother's day.