Midwives, antenatal staff and consultants at Walsall Healthcare have achieved third best in the UK for their efforts at detecting babies with restricted growth to help reduce stillbirths.

The teams have been using the GAP (Growth Assessment Protocol) programme developed by the Perinatal Institute which uses personalised growth charts to better detect babies who are not growing well.

Babies who are suffering Intra Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) can grow so slowly in the womb that they are at risk of health problems. Growth restriction is a significant cause of stillbirth.

Carla Jones-Charles, Deputy Director of Midwifery, Gynaecology and Sexual Health at Walsall Healthcare, said: “This is such an achievement for all of our community and hospital colleagues and sonographers across maternity services who have been involved in this programme as they support families during pregnancy.

“Stillbirth is a devastating event that impacts women, families and the professionals involved in their care. All of the teams involved have embraced the education and training within the programme which focuses on the consistency of measurements and referral for scans to improve recognition of pregnancies at risk.

“Anything that we can do to prevent avoidable deaths of babies and reduce stillbirths in Walsall has to be welcomed and to be acknowledged as third best in the UK is indicative of our commitment.”