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Showing results for tags 'Pregnancy'.
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Content Article
Group B Strep: Poppy's story
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Maternity
Group B Streptococcus (Group B Strep, Strep B, Beta Strep, or GBS) is a type of bacteria which lives in the intestines, rectum and vagina of around 2-4 in every 10 women in the UK (20-40%). Most women carrying GBS will have no symptoms and although it is not harmful to pregnant women, it can affect babies around the time of birth. Read Poppy's story. -
Content ArticleHealthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) looked into the suitability of equipment and technology used within maternity departments to conduct continuous fetal heart rate monitoring during labour and birth. Although there are multiple methods used to monitor fetal heart rate, the main equipment used is a continuous fetal heart rate monitoring is the cardiotocograph (CTG) machine. There has been some common safety issues identified with availability of equipment and functionality, staff understanding of the equipment and its purpose and an inability to understand and interpret the fetal heart rate. HSIB conducted an investigation into how cardiograph machines are used, any problems staff experienced while using them and problems that staff using them and how the equipment was purchased experienced, and how staff are trained and assessed as being competent to use them.
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Content Article
What is group B Strep?
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Maternity
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Group B Streptococcus (GBS, group B Strep or Strep B) is a type of bacteria which lives in the intestines, rectum, or vagina of 2 to 4 in every ten women in the UK (20 to 40%). This is often referred to as ‘carrying’ or being ‘colonised with’ group B Strep. Most women carrying GBS will have no symptoms. Carrying GBS is not harmful to you, but there is a small chance it can affect your baby around the time of birth. GBS can occasionally cause serious infection in young babies and, very rarely, in babies before they are born. Carrying GBS can also sometimes lead to serious infections for pregnant women, though this is also rare. Find out more about Group B Strep in pregnancy on the Group B Strep Support website or by watching the video via the link below. -
Content ArticleThis is the transcript of a backbench debate in the House of Commons regarding the implementation of the recommendations of First Do No Harm report, published by the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review on the 8 July 2020, chaired by Baroness Cumberlege (also known as the Cumberlege Review).
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Content ArticleThis review was undertaken as part of the remit of MBRRACE-UK to ensure that key learning and recommendations for changes to care and services for pregnant women during the second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the UK are identified in a timely manner in order to implement rapid change. The report’s authors reviewed the care of all pregnant and postnatal women who died with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and women who died and whose care or engagement with care was influenced by changes as a consequence of the pandemic between 1 June 2020 and 1 March this year. Fourteen women died with SARS-CoV-2 infection, ten from COVID-19 and four from other causes, three further women's deaths were influenced by changes as a consequence of the pandemic. The report identifies several themes affecting the care of pregnant and postpartum women in the context of the pandemic and suggests that there needs to be wider awareness of how best to treat pregnant and postnatal women with COVID-19.
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Content Article
Sodium Valproate: The Fetal Valproate Syndrome Tragedy
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Women's health
In this article, Sodium Valproate: The Fetal Valproate Syndrome Tragedy, Sharon Hartles, member of the Open University’s Harm and Evidence Research Collaborative, reflects upon the use of Sodium Valporate, marketed as Epilim, to treat patients at risk of epilepsy and the subsequent harms in fetal development and birth defects that arose from its use. -
Content ArticleThe aim of this study from Gurol-Urganci et al. was to determine the association between COVID-19 infection at the time of birth and maternal and perinatal outcomes. Covid infection at the time of birth is associated with higher rates of fetal death, preterm birth, preeclampsia and emergency Caesarean delivery. There were no additional adverse neonatal outcomes, other than those related to preterm delivery. Pregnant women should be counseled regarding risks of covid infection and should be considered a priority for vaccination.
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Content ArticlePopulation-level data on COVID-19 vaccine uptake in pregnancy and SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes are lacking. Stock et al. describe COVID-19 vaccine uptake and SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women in Scotland, using whole-population data from a national, prospective cohort. They found that vaccine coverage was substantially lower in pregnant women than in the general female population of 18−44 years. Overall, 77.4% of SARS-CoV-2 infections, 90.9% of SARS-CoV-2 associated with hospital admission and 98% SARS-CoV-2 associated with critical care admission, as well as all baby deaths, occurred in pregnant women who were unvaccinated at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis. Addressing low vaccine uptake rates in pregnant women is imperative to protect the health of women and babies in the ongoing pandemic.
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Content ArticleIn this study in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, the authors examined the views of men from Uganda currently living in the UK of an educational board game used to promote engagement in maternal health. Men can play a significant role in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in low-income countries and maternal health programmes are increasingly looking for innovative interventions to engage men to help improve health outcomes for pregnant women. The study found that men were receptive to the board game and reported that easy-to-understand visual aids and messages helped change their perspective. Participants suggested that the game needs to be adapted to the local context for use with men in rural Uganda.
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Content ArticleIn a recent survey, the Patient Information Forum asked women how to make information on induction better. Here presented in poster form are the top 5 suggestions from an analysis of 1,200 comments. Read full survey results here.
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Content ArticleLindsey's doctor was so focused on the 52 pounds she'd gained during her third trimester, she missed a pregnancy disorder that could have killed Lindsey and her unborn child. Watch Lindsey's video where she talks about her experience and why it is important to find a doctor who respects you and who you can trust.
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Content ArticleRhian Rose underwent feticide on 22 November 2019 and was admitted to a maternity ward on 24 November 2019 for medical termination of pregnancy. By the evening of her admission, Rhian had clear symptoms of infection, however the sepsis pathway and antibiotics were not commenced until the following morning. In the late afternoon on 25 November 2019, Rhian became acutely unwell resulting in unconsciousness, emergency caesarean section, subsequent cardiac arrest and eventually her death. In this report the Coroner raises concerns about a lack of informed consent and discussion of maternal wishes and the mode of delivery highlighted by this case. He highlights a lack of guidance relating to the infection risk when a mother is attending for delivery following feticide.
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Content ArticleIn this podcast episode, host Aaron Harmon speaks to Dr Neil Vargesson, chair in developmental biology at the University of Aberdeen, about the importance of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and why pre-clinical studies are key to keeping people safe. They discuss the history of Primodos, a hormone-based pregnancy test that was given to women between 1959 and 1978. It was developed before GLP and before standardised testing for teratogenesis (causing birth defects). There are data that suggests Primodos caused birth defects, but more questions remain.
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Content ArticleThis report looks at several incidences of pregnant women with Covid-19 symptoms being sent to a maternity unit, when it would have been more appropriate for them to attend A&E. It highlights some confusion amongst health professionals and states that the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Infection in Pregnancy Guidance was updated to make care pathways clearer.
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Content Article
This joint letter calls on Maria Caulfield MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Patient Safety and Primary Care, to implement in full the recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety (IMMDS) Review on behalf of those harmed by the side effects of Primodos, Mesh and Sodium Valproate. It is signed by Marie Lyon from the Association for Children Damaged by Hormone Pregnancy Tests, Kath Sansom from Sling The Mesh and Emma Murphy and Janet Williams from In-Fact. -
Content ArticleA midwife in England shares their experiences of working in the NHS in 2021. They describe the mental and physical impact of having to work beyond capacity on a daily basis, a situation caused by a staffing crisis in the midwifery workforce. The impact of this is that more midwives are leaving the NHS as they are unable to cope with these pressures, which makes the workload for remaining staff even heavier.
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Content Article
RCM - Midwife number slumps (7 February 2022)
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Maternity
In this blog, Stuart Bonar, Public Affairs Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, looks at the growing midwifery workforce crisis in the UK. For the first time since records began, the number of midwives is falling year-on-year. The impact on those midwives who remain in the NHS is bigger workloads and decreasing wellbeing. The author calls on the government to pay attention to the situation, and suggests that an adequate pay rise for midwives and midwifery assistants should be part of the solution to falling staff numbers. -
Content Article
In this interview, Dr Alice Ladur talks about her experience of using the Whose Shoes? approach to increase male partners’ involvement in maternity care in Uganda. Whose Shoes? is a co-production tool that uses a board game to help participants share experiences and reflect on their experiences of services. Alice describes the importance and impact of involving partners and families in antenatal care and highlights the value of adapting interventions to specific cultures and locations. -
Content ArticleThis guidance will help Local Maternity Systems align their Equality and Equality Action Plans with Integrated Care Systems health inequalities work. The guidance includes an analysis of the evidence, interventions to improve equity and equality, resources, indicators and metrics.
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Content ArticleThis is the transcript of a Westminster Hall debate in the House of Commons on fulfilling the recommendations of the Cumberlege Report.
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Content Article
Being fat & pregnant is not a crime (29 January 2022)
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Maternity
In this blog for Refinery29, Sadhbh O'Sullivan looks at the issues faced during antenatal care by pregnant women who are overweight. She recounts the perspectives of several pregnant women who felt dehumanised and blamed for their weight during pregnancy. She also highlights issues with the way in which risks are communicated to pregnant women, with overcommunication and overestimation of risk causing anxiety and sometimes making women reluctant to engage with maternity services. She also discusses failures of informed consent, the role of comorbidities and the impact of wider health inequalities. -
Content ArticleThis index of medications provides evidence-based patient leaflets about the use of different medicines in pregnancy. The leaflets are produced by the UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS). Women can look up medications to understand their impact on pregnancy and how they may affect the chances of miscarriage and birth defects, and provide information on their own pregnancy to add to the knowledge base around medicines in pregnancy.
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Event
Everywoman festival
Patient Safety Learning posted an event in Community Calendar
untilThe Everywoman festival is a one day event aimed at all women over the age of 16 and aims to empower women to understand what is normal and when to seek help for issues that can affect 90% of women at some point in their life. The festival combines more than 40 workshops and 6 themed seminar sessions with a fun, relaxed environment with art workshops, food and drink, music and charity stands. Themes are wide ranging and include periods and endometriosis, pelvis pain and bladder, childbirth injury, menopause and sexual wellbeing. Additional drop in sessions to meet the consultant experts as well as book readings and signings will be available on the day. The Everywoman Festival will be held in the heart of Cardiff in the beautiful venue of Insole Court. It will feature a range of interactive workshops and talks from leading health experts. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about everything from nutrition and fitness to mindfulness through art. For those who are looking for something a little more active, there will be a variety of fitness classes and workshops taking place throughout the day. From seated yoga, Pilates to Belly dancing and dancing lessons from Heels empowerment, there's something for everyone, regardless of their fitness level. Charities attending with stalls and information include Coppa feel, Endometriosis UK, Womens Aid, the Menstrual project and Fair Treatment for Women of Wales. Health stalls from Muslim Doctors Cymru, Medtronic, Mcgregor, THD will be on hand to provide information and signpost for everything from your bladder and bowels, childbirth to high blood pressure. Some of the highlights of the festival are the wellness market, where attendees can shop for a wide variety of health and wellness products and in the creative market products from artists such as Black and Beech, Melin Trygwynt and Eliza Eliza. Further tickets and information Follow on instagram @Theeverywomanfestival A5leaflet Everywoman (2).pdf -
Event
Priorities for improving care and support for pregnant women
Sam posted an event in Community Calendar
This Westminster Health Policy forum conference will discuss the next steps for improving care and support for pregnant women. Delegates will assess priorities for the safety and quality of maternity services moving forward following the release of the Final Ockenden review: Independent Review of Maternity Services, and for the Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigation Special Health Authority (MNSI) division of the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch being established for April 2023. It will be an opportunity to assess priorities for the Secretary of State, and to examine the future outlook for supporting pregnant women following the publication of the Women’s Health Strategy for England, which highlighted a need for pregnant women to be listened to - and included the ambition for 4m people to receive personalised care by March 2024. Areas for discussion include: personalised care: assessment of individual needs - improving the access to mental health services - promoting healthy lifestyle choices during pre-conception, pregnancy, and early years workforce support: encouraging professional development, including funding and education - maternal workforce recruitment and retention - improving senior leadership improving patient safety ensuring strong communication in maternity teams providing appropriate pregnancy risk assessment recommendations and guidance for clinical decision making encouraging and delivering continuity of care progress and next steps for the Maternity Transformation Programme following the Better Births report investigation: priorities for the MNSI and ensuring safety concerns are investigated and addressed - learning from mistakes - listening to families quality of care: developing best practice guidelines - delivering high quality services - improving pregnancy outcomes - improving communication with pregnant women inequalities: addressing variation in service provision - tackling disparities in pregnancy outcomes, particularly for ethnic minorities. Register -
Community Post
'Drug scandal that damaged 20,000 babies'
Patient Safety Learning posted a topic in Adverse interactions
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An investigation by The Sunday Times has found that the drug sodium valproate is still being handed out to women in plain packets with the information leaflets missing, or with stickers over the warnings. Sodium valproate, has been given to women with epilepsy for decades without proper warnings, and has caused autism, learning difficulties and physical deformities in up to 20,000 babies in Britain. The government is refusing to offer any compensation to those affected by sodium valproate, despite an independent review by Baroness Cumberlege concluding in 2020 that families should be given financial redress. Read the Twitter thread from Rebecca Bromley who has been working with families who have suffered:- Posted
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