This project aims to improve how we talk about babies’ movements in pregnancy - so that parents get the information and guidance they need, and more babies’ lives are saved.
What I need everyone to understand is that valuable, life-saving information cannot just be hidden in a leaflet, it needs to be shown and explained at all times... You just don’t know who you will be saving from a lifetime of empty dreams, memories and so much more.
- Suehelen, mother to baby Miracle who died at 39 weeks of pregnancy
Important updates linked to sharing information and guidance about fetal movements
Over the last two years, there has been some very welcome progress in this area of care. This is thanks to focused, effective collaboration among families and stakeholders with a shared aim: to make sure all UK families get detailed and accurate information about babies' movements, in a way that works for them.
Read the report by clicking the link below.
Our new report describes important developments linked to sharing information and advice about babies' movements in pregnancy.
Of note, there have been updates to clinical guidelines for reduced fetal movements from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, new NHS England specifications for maternity Triage care, and a detailed review and update of information for UK families led by the charity Tommy’s.
The report also highlights where more work is needed to make sure all families get high-quality and personalised information and guidance about babies’ movements in pregnancy.
Why is it important that families get consistent and accurate information about babies' movements in pregnancy?
We know that many parents who experience later pregnancy loss notice a change in their baby’s movements.
In recent years, raising awareness of reduced fetal movements has been an important part of work to reduce stillbirth in the UK. But the effect of this on stillbirth rates is unclear. Some parents have told us that they would like more detailed information about babies’ movements – to help them feel reassured and know when to get help.
In every pregnancy I’ve had, I’ve never really known when I should be feeling it. I’ve never really known what kind of pattern I should be looking out for.
- Bereaved mother
The project has been an opportunity to look more closely at the known challenges in this area of care and bring together bereaved parents and professional stakeholders from across the UK to identify solutions and drive improvements collaboratively for greater and more rapid impact.
What parents, healthcare staff and professional stakeholders have told us about discussing babies' movements in pregnancy - what is working well and what needs to change
In 2024, In 2024, the baby loss charity Teddy’s Wish generously offered the Sands Saving Babies’ Lives research team some funding to undertake a project to support better conversations about fetal movements.
In partnership with Dr Tomasina Stacey from King’s College London, the Sands Saving Babies’ Lives team launched a horizon scanning project aiming to improve information and guidance about babies' movements in pregnancy.
Through this work, we heard from bereaved and non-bereaved parents, healthcare staff, and professional stakeholders, who described a range of issues and shared their ideas about how care could be improved.
Our 2025 Learning and Impact Report explains how we approached this work, what we learnt, and priority actions for improvement.
What will Sands do next to improve information and guidance about babies' movements in pregnancy?
This project has shown the potential for real and rapid impact when professional stakeholders and bereaved parents come together with a shared aim.
Sands will continue to focus on improving information and guidance about babies' movements in pregnancy. We are committed to:
- Driving further improvements in this important area of maternity care and supporting the implementing of learning from this work.
- Continuing to raise awareness of ‘what works’ to improve safety and experiences and save more babies’ lives.
Sands would like to thank everyone who has taken part, especially the bereaved parents who so generously shared their stories and insights. We are particularly grateful to Teddy’s Wish, whose funding made this work possible.
If you would like to speak to us about this work, please email our Saving Babies’ Lives team at research@sands.org.uk.