Manchester scientists to lead stillbirth research projects
Press release: 24 April 2009
In a bid to help discover why 17 babies each day in the UK are stillborn or die early in life, a figure that has barely changed for 20 years, scientists in Manchester have embarked on two important research programmes.
Dr Alexander Heazell of The University of Manchester’s Maternal and Fetal Health Research Group based at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester has been awarded funding by SANDS, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity, to carry out the research. The funding for the programmes was raised by the Tunbridge Wells group of SANDS.
The first project involves a survey of doctors, midwives and pathologists providing maternity care across the UK, to identify the needs of staff who support parents in deciding whether to have a post-mortem on their baby. The survey forms part of an international study initiated by the Australian and New Zealand Stillbirth Alliance (ANZSA) and endorsed by the International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA).
Stillbirth is a distressing experience for parents and the idea of a post-mortem examination of the baby can be a difficult prospect to face. Currently there are no national guidelines to assist doctors and midwives with the processes for investigating a stillbirth, or how to broach this difficult topic.
“We hope that the results of this study will help identify areas of training and education that could be addressed to improve the care given to parents at the time of stillbirth,” said Dr Heazell.
“Knowing why a baby was stillborn through post-mortem investigations is important, as the same problem may affect the mother’s future pregnancies, leading to complications or even another stillbirth.”
The second research project involves studying placenta tissue samples donated by women who have lost a baby to stillbirth. The placenta is normally responsible for transferring oxygen and nutrients to the developing baby. In cases of stillbirth, several different features have been seen in the placenta, and in some cases these may help to determine the cause of stillbirth.
Dr Heazell’s team will first investigate placenta tissue from a known cause of stillbirth, to discover whether microscopic features in the structure of the placenta vary depending on the cause of stillbirth. They will then apply what they have learned to 50 ‘unexplained’ stillbirths, to see if the cause can be identified. Each year, one in 200 UK pregnancies continues to end in stillbirth.
“Currently, between 15% and 66% of stillbirths are classified as ‘unexplained’, which means women in this situation often have no strategy for preventing complications in subsequent pregnancies,“ added Dr Heazell.
“We anticipate that the findings of this research will help reduce the number of unexplained stillbirths, leading to better care for the mother in a subsequent pregnancy. The study should also provide information to increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying stillbirth, which are currently unclear.”
A lecturer in The University of Manchester’s School of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences whose work is also supported by the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), Dr Heazell took part in the recent launch of the WHY17 campaign by Sands at the House of Commons.
Every day in the UK, 17 babies die and Sands has produced a report – ‘Saving Babies’ Lives’ – which highlights what can be done to help reduce the number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths. For more information, go to the SANDS website.
Ends
Notes for editors
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre is a partnership between the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester.
The NIHR provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility. The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training. Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients.
The BRC also receives funding from the North West Regional Development Agency.
Further information
• Ben Grothusen, Communications Officer, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, on +44 (0) 161 901 2659 or
• Jill Hulme, Communications Officer, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, on +44 (0) 7913 278514