Safer baby

complete

Summary

Research suggests that many stillbirths may be avoidable. We also know there is low awareness of the risk factors for stillbirth.

We teamed up with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and the Stillbirth Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) to improve outcomes for mothers and their babies, using the IHI’s proven Model for improvement.

From June 2019 to May 2021, the Safer baby collaborative worked with participating Victorian health services to reduce stillbirth rates during the third trimester.

Using the ‘Partnering in healthcare’ framework, we included consumer voices and representatives across the participating teams, and in leadership roles for this program.

We tested and spread evidence-based clinical care to reduce the rates of stillbirth, focussing on five areas of practice:

• Improving rates of smoking cessation in pregnancy
• Diagnosis and management of fetal growth restriction
• Increasing public awareness of the importance of fetal movements
• Raising awareness of safe maternal sleep positions
• Promoting appropriate timing of birth and mitigating unintended consequences or harm.

Outcomes

The Safer baby collaborative concluded in May 2021. Despite unprecedented circumstances, including a global pandemic and devastating bushfires, the participating health services achieved exceptional outcomes for Victorians. Safer Care Victoria would like to extend our sincere gratitude to those who contributed to this work under such exceptional circumstances. 

The 15 Victorian health services that completed both phases of the Safer baby collaborative sought to reduce stillbirth rates across the state. Data collected throughout the collaborative indicates that 20 stillbirths were prevented in the course of the collaborative. This is a remarkable achievement and a life changing outcome for 20 Victorian families. These teams also: 

• Increased smoking cessation rates of women during pregnancy by 200%, from an average rate of 11% to 33%
• Decreased the stillbirth rate by 21%, from an average rate of 0.24% to 0.19%
• Increased the days between stillbirths by 131%, from an average of 3.5 days to 8.1 days, including periods of 47 days and 32 days without a stillbirth occurring at any of the reporting sites. 

Who was involved?

Clinician story: Three top improvement tips from Ballarat Health Services

"It was a new language and now we can all converse in it!" 

Hear from Dr Natasha Frawley about her team's experience through an improvement project, and get some tips for your own service.  To learn more, read the full story.

Update

The Maternity and Newborn Improvement Team is committed to building improvement capability and driving improved outcomes for women, babies and families. The Safer Baby Improvement Program continues the work done in the Safer Baby collaborative and is open to all Victorian health services. For more information, please read the MNLHN improvement program information pack or contact maternityandnewbornlhn@safercare.vic.gov.au.

Resources for health services

The Safer Baby Bundle

The Safer Baby Bundle is a national initiative with five evidence-based elements to address key areas where improved practice can reduce the number of stillborn babies.

Partnering in healthcare framework

Our Partnering in healthcare framework and self-assessment tool will help services involve women and their families, respond to their needs and expectations and deliver care that is safe, woman-centred, equitable and effective.

Victoria’s Mothers, Babies and Children report 2022

The Victoria’s Mothers, Babies and Children report from the Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity (CCOPMM), provides access to comprehensive data on all maternal, perinatal and paediatric mortality and morbidity, including stillbirth.

Perinatal services performance indicators 2021

The Victorian Perinatal services performance indicators report provides benchmarking data on a range of clinical indicators, including smoking cessation and detection of fetal growth restriction.