As medical professionals, it is crucial to understand that while not all stillbirths can be prevented, there are proactive steps that pregnant women can take to reduce the risk of stillbirth and maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Your patient is pregnant, overjoyed and can’t wait to go on their pregnancy journey and meet their little one. In this situation, it can be uncomfortable talking to your patients about stillbirth prevention. Unfortunately, the idea that scaring a pregnant person is worse than empowering them with appropriate knowledge to help keep themselves and their little ones healthy has permeated the general public.
There is also often a belief that stillbirths aren’t preventable. Whilst not all stillbirths are preventable, some are and it is important that pregnant people and their partners, or support people know the key steps they can take to help reduce their risk.
Each year in Australia, more than 50% of stillbirths that occur in the final weeks of an otherwise ‘healthy’ pregnancy have no known cause or identifiable causes.
As medical professionals, it is crucial to understand that while not all stillbirths can be prevented, there are proactive steps that pregnant women can take to reduce the risk of stillbirth and maintain a healthy pregnancy.
To reduce the risk of stillbirth, Red Nose Australia recommends during pregnancy to:
1. Quit smoking and avoid being around people who smoke.
2. Sleep on your side after 28 weeks.
3. Monitor your baby’s movements and seek immediate medical assistance if there are any changes or concerns.
Additionally, we encourage those expecting – and their partners – to lead a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition, regular exercise and no alcohol
As medical professionals providing care to pregnant women, you play a pivotal role in educating and advising them on ways to stay healthy throughout their pregnancy and how to minimise the risk of stillbirth.
Your knowledge and guidance can significantly impact the well-being of expectant mothers and their unborn babies. Hence, we encourage you to share practical advice with your patients to ensure they have an informed, safe and healthy pregnancy journey. Further information on stillbirth prevention can be found at Stillbirth prevention | Red Nose Australia
Last modified: 3/12/24