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PLRG Study Day showcases latest research in pregnancy and infant loss
As part of its activities for Baby Loss Awareness Week, the Pregnancy Loss Research Group held a study day on Friday 11 October to showcase its latest research in pregnancy and infant loss. Over 80 people from across the South South West Hospital Group attended the educational event.
The study day was co-hosted with the Centre of Midwifery Education (CME) at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH). Topics covered included miscarriage, communication and knowledge translation, enhancing knowledge and awareness, home blood testing for hCG, stillbirth risk factors, Coroners and perinatal death investigations, perinatal pathology, perinatal deaths in twin pregnancies, and support for healthcare professionals.
Students and staff members from St Angelas College, collaborators on the SPRING project also attended and actively participated in the study day. The SPRING – Supporting Pregnancy & Reproductive Health Information for Teenagers – project aims to improve knowledge at secondary school age level of issues in relation to pregnancy loss and fertility difficulties.
Speaking about the day, Professor Keelin O’Donoghue, said:
“There was great energy and engagement at our PLRG Study Day today. Many thanks to organisers, all speakers, our CME colleagues at CUMH and everyone who attended including our new researchers from St Angela’s College!”
Study day programme
| Presenter | Presentation title | Related project |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Laura Linehan | Pregnancy loss and infertility – developing a knowledge tool in secondary schools | SPRING |
| Dr Tamara Escañuela Sánchez | Stillbirth: risk factors and prevention | RELEVANT |
| Laura Robinson | Perinatal mortality in women in minority ethnic groups in the Republic of Ireland | |
| Marita Hennessy PhD | Using graphic medicine to challenge stigma and enhance awareness around miscarriage | RE:CURRENT |
| Dr Lucy Bolger | Pregnancy loss representation in high impact journals | |
| Dr Caroline Joyce | Home capillary blood testing for hCG in early pregnancy | Biomarkers for Gestational Trophoblastic Disease |
| Louise Dooley | Serum progesterone use to assist prediction of spontaneously resolving pregnancies of unknown location in women attending an early pregnancy unit | |
| Dr Emily O’Connor | Implementation of a perinatal mortality review tool for Ireland: understanding facilitators and barriers | ACHIEVE |
| Varsha Nagaraj Shetty | The role of Coroners in perinatal death investigation in high-income countries: a scoping review | The Coronial Investigation into Perinatal Deaths |
| Bríd O’Sullivan | Perinatal pathology service development | |
| Anna Burns | Service evaluation of stillbirth care pathways at CUMH | |
| Anne Marie Farrell | Comparison of risk, maternal and fetal characteristics of singleton stillbirths in Ireland (2011-2021) by gestational group | |
| Caroline O’Connor | Perinatal deaths in twin and singleton infants in Ireland: a comparison of characteristics and causes | MILESTONE |
| Julianna Crowley | Improving support for healthcare professionals experiencing professional loss and grief in response to neonatal death |
Attendees were also able to view the Why my baby died exhibition which is running throughout the month of August on the glass corridor on the fifth floor of CUMH.
Additional education and training activities
Earlier on Friday morning, Marita Hennessy PhD presented at the Ireland South Women and Infants Directorate Grand Rounds. She spoke about how to better support people who experience pregnancy loss under 24 weeks gestation at work, based on findings and recommendations from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth-funded PLACES project.
The PLRG undertakes a range of education and training events each year, as well as research dissemination and outreach events.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to everyone involved in making the 2024 study day such a successful event:
- Everyone who attended
- The staff and students of St Angelas College for attending and actively participating
- Members of the PLRG who presented their work and facilitated sessions
- Mary O’Connor, Director, Centre of Midwifery Education, CUMH
- Dr Emily O’Connor, Dr Laura Linehan and Caroline O’Connor for leading the organisation of the event.