Probe into pandemic stillbirths

AN urgent review is to be carried out into an increase in stillbirths in Scotland during the pandemic.

Concerns have been raised that some pregnant women could be afraid to seek medical help for fear of infection or do not want to burden the NHS.

Fewer face-to-face antenatal appointments and worries over attending hospital alone have also been cited as potential factors.

A team of experts is now working with health boards to review potential causes of the increase.

The rate of stillbirths rose in April, when Covid-19 cases peaked, and remained above normal in May.

In July, the rate jumped above the ‘upper warning limit’ of six per 1,000 total live births – almost twice the average rate – compared with 3.8 last year and 2.6 in 2018.

Experts have urged any pregnant women with concerns to see their midwife or doctor immediately.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘While the data does show increases in some recent months, it is not possible at this stage to say whether this is indicative of a sustained increase or due to monthly fluctuation.’

He added that the findings of the review would be discussed by the Scottish Government multidisciplinary expert Stillbirth Group next month.

Scottish Labour health spokesman Monica Lennon said: ‘An urgent investigation is needed to understand the causes and what preventative action can be taken.

‘Pre-pandemic factors may have contributed, in terms of staffing levels, training and safe systems of work.’

She added: ‘Anecdotally, my conversations with staff whistleblowers and women who have experienced pregnancy during lockdown have persuaded me that more must be done to improve pregnancy outcomes.’

Stillbirths refer to the death or loss of a baby after 24 weeks of pregnancy. The average stillbirth rate in Scotland in 2019 was 3.5 per 1,000 births.

A similar safety review has been ordered by NHS England after stillbirths almost doubled there between April and June. There were 40 stillbirths in England after labour began, compared with 24 in the same period last year.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said the figures were ‘concerning’ but it is waiting for more data to compare numbers over a longer timeframe.

In May, a poll found that nearly half of pregnant women were afraid to go out in public and risk exposing themselves and their unborn babies to coronavirus.