‘Marginal’ benefits of stillbirths strategy

A STRATEGY aimed at reducing the risk of stillbirths remains unproven, a study has found.

Researchers in a major study found the care package may offer “marginal” benefits but the results were ultimately inconclusive. Previous research had suggested that encouraging women to pay attention to their babies’ movements, combined with additional checks and early delivery of babies at risk, might help cut rates of stillbirth by 30 per cent.

A research team, led by the University of Edinburgh, looked at whether a similar strategy could help to reduce rates of stillbirths in a large randomised controlled trial.

The study analysed more than 400,000 pregnancies from 33 hospitals around the UK and Ireland in what is said to be the largest study of fetal movement awareness to date.

The results pointed to a marginal drop in the stillbirth rate, from 44 in 10,000 births after standard care to around 41 in 10,000 births with the intervention.

Further analysis suggested that the intervention might prevent five stillbirths for every 10,000 babies born, but the effects were too small to prove that the care package had been beneficial.

Experts said further research was needed.

Professor Jane Norman, director of the Edinburgh Tommy’s Centre at the university, said: “The study was designed to detect an effect of 30 per cent or greater. Jane Brewin, of baby charity Tommy’s, said: “We know that reduced baby movements is associated with the placenta not working so well and the baby’s health being compromised.