More than 50 new mums have supported a study that is being led by Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and its maternity teams aimed at better prevention of the severe trauma that women can experience during childbirth.

The OASI2 research project (Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury) is being led in Walsall by Consultant Mrs Preeti Jain in conjunction with the FORCE (Faculty of Research and Clinical Education) team.

The research project focuses on the best ways to implement best practice in NHS trusts and follows the OASI Care Bundle Project that was rolled out between 2017 and 2018 in 16 maternity units in England, Scotland and Wales.

The project was led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and was undertaken in response to evidence of rising rates of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASI) in England.

Mrs Jain said:  “We’d like to thank the 56 mums who have helped this important study by giving us feedback on their experiences as service users. This has been invaluable to our maternity teams who are working to implement best practice.

“We’re also delighted that Walsall has been recognised as one of the top recruiting sites for research involving post-natal women and this is another great achievement for our Trust. We have 53 members of staff in maternity who are supporting the OASI2 study and it’s wonderful to see this collaboration between them and our local mums. The power of research to implement meaningful change cannot be underestimated.”

The OASI2 study care bundle looks at what can be done to reduce the risk of OASI rates and helps to prompt discussions between mums-to-be and clinicians about what interventions may be used.