2021 Exploring the complexities of stillbirth prevention

• This commentary underscores the importance of prevention efforts to address the global issue of stillbirth. Despite a 35% reduction in stillbirth rates since 2000, progress has been slower than needed to achieve global health goals. International initiatives, such as perinatal mortality audits and public health campaigns, emphasise the preventability of a significant number of stillbirths. Successful examples include the Scottish Patient and Safety Program's focus on reducing stillbirth rates through monitoring fetal wellbeing and raising awareness, and the NHS Saving Babies' Lives Care Bundle in the UK, which has contributed to a 20% decline in stillbirth rates. In Australia, the National Stillbirth Action and Implementation plan aims for a sustainable 20% reduction in preventable stillbirths over five years, incorporating a Safer Baby Bundle that includes interventions like smoking cessation support and monitoring fetal growth. The emphasis on prevention was echoed in Ireland with the establishment of the Perinatal Mortality National Clinical Audit and the proposal of the establishment of a care bundle, which includes a public health awareness program focusing on reducing substance use in pregnancy, weight management, and raising awareness of stillbirth, safest sleep position and reduced fetal movements. The RELEVANT project seeks to enhance prevention strategies by understanding modifiable behavioural risk factors for stillbirth, with the goal of developing effective interventions.

2020 The role of maternal health and maternal obesity in perinatal mortality

• Obesity rates are rising globally. Ireland has the second highest prevalence of obesity. It is estimated that more than half of women who become pregnant are overweight at the time of booking. Recent NPEC data has documented a correlation between the high BMI of mothers and the increased risk of suffering from pregnancy health complications, miscarriage, stillbirth, or an early neonatal death. Read for more detail. 

2019, 2018 The contribution of Twin Pregnancy to Perinatal Mortality

• Since 1980s the incidence of multiple births has steadily increased. A multiple pregnancy poses higher risks and remains an important issue in the provision of obstetric and neonatal services.This invited commentary focuses on twin perinatal mortality in 2019 in relation to trends over the last eight years (2012- 2019). Together with the NPEC audit, the inclusion of a more detailed review of twin perinatal mortality represents a concerted effort to address and reduce perinatal mortality in this high-risk group

Read more commentaries below.

• 2017 The impact of prematurity on our perinatal mortality rate
• 2016 Reducing the burden of intrapartum fetal deaths
• 2015 Early neonatal death in Ireland and congenital anomalies
• 2014 Can we reduce the incidence of stillbirth?
• 2013 The impact of stillbirth
• 2012 Fetal growth restriction and the risk of perinatal mortality
• 2011 Perinatal pathology