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.
As part of this work, we are asking bereaved parents and healthcare professionals about their views on discussing babies’ movements in pregnancy. You can find out more about how to get involved below.
Why is this project needed?
We know that many parents who experience later pregnancy loss notice a change in their baby’s movements.
In recent years, raising awareness of babies’ movements has been an important part of work to reduce avoidable 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.
We are asking healthcare professionals and parents how they think information and guidance about babies’ movements in pregnancy could be improved.
With this knowledge we can support safer and more positive pregnancy experiences and reduce pregnancy loss and baby deaths.
What does this project involve?
We are reviewing the available evidence and listening to bereaved parents and healthcare professionals to learn more about how conversations about baby’s movement in pregnancy could be improved.
All of this information will feed into an event we are holding in the autumn, where professionals who can make change will come together to discuss the biggest challenges in discussing babies’ movements and – importantly - how these can be addressed.
How can I get involved?
This is a project looking at care in the UK. There have been lots of changes in the last few years, which aimed to make maternity care safer. By focusing on more recent experiences, we hope to learn important lessons about what discussions about babies’ movements are like in the UK today.
In this project, we are holding focus groups and doing a survey to learn about bereaved parents' views on how discussions about babies' movements could be improved.
We've had a lot of interest in the focus groups, so sign-ups are now closed. But we would still really like to hear from you. If you were pregnant in the UK after 2016, you can share your views and experiences through this online survey.
For bereaved parents who were pregnant before 2016, you can still get support from us, and we invite you to connect with others in our community.
If you work in healthcare and have been involved in discussing fetal movements with pregnant women and birthing people at any point in pregnancy in the UK since 2016, you can share your experiences and views here. This survey will be open until Friday 16 August.
What will the focus groups for parents involve?
The focus groups will be online via Zoom and there will be up to eight parents in each group.
We will be discussing how you think conversations about babies’ movements in pregnancy could be improved, and what you think needs to change so that these improvements can happen.
Focus groups and interviews will be recorded so we can have notes of what is said. The discussions and interviews will be completely confidential, and any information that might identify who you are will be removed or will not be published in any reports.
To acknowledge contributions, we are offering a £20 gift voucher for Amazon or Love2Shop to parents who take part in a focus group.
We know that it can be hard to talk about the time around your baby’s death. Support will be available during and after the focus groups, and you can step away or stop at any point.
How will this work help make positive change?
Our findings will be shared with a wide audience, including policy makers and maternity professionals. They will feed into our work across research, education and policy at Sands.
We will make sure its key messages are heard by those with the power to make change.
In this way, we will support safer and more positive pregnancy experiences, and reduce pregnancy loss and baby deaths.
Anyone who takes part in the project will also have the opportunity to join a network of parents who can help shape future research supported by Sands.
We look forward to hearing from you.