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Shaping healthcare guidelines to prevent and reduce stillbirths

12 May 2022

Our research into pregnancy risk factors has influenced UK and international health policy, helping educate parents and save lives

Baby in womb graphic

Research conducted here at Manchester into risk factors associated with stillbirths has influenced UK and international health policy, helping to educate parents and save lives.

This includes:

  • Identifying and managing stillbirth risk factors with findings used in the Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle; between 2015 and 2017 the number of stillbirths reduced by 20% in the 19 NHS Trusts where the care bundle was adopted. 
  • Researchers working with NHS England and Tommy’s Baby Charity to improve both parental awareness and the clinical care required to prevent stillbirths.  
  • Sharing our findings with healthcare providers across the world, which was critical to the development of the Australian Safer Baby Bundle. Initial evaluation showed that the bundle was associated with a 27% reduction in stillbirths in 21 maternity services in the state of Victoria. 
  • Creating the Rainbow Clinic in Manchester in 2013 to provide care for families. By 2021, the centre had treated more than 900 families. A 2016 review showed that Rainbow Clinic care helped to reduce preterm birth by 11% and low birth weight by 9%.

Find out more at: