More Research Is Needed To Prevent Pregnancy Complications
Many people have expressed dismay and distress at the recent sad news that Amanda Holden has lost her baby when seven months pregnant.
It is hard to imagine the pain she and her husband are feeling and much has been written about that aspect of this tragic event.
According to leading women’s health charity Wellbeing of Women, there are still far too many women and their partners who suffer similar problems:
-Around 250,000 pregnancies end in miscarriage
- Over 50% of stillbirths remain unexplained
- 1 in 13 live births in England and Wales are born preterm
- 25% of premature births are caused by pre-eclampsia
- 1 in 25 babies are growth restricted
But it is the case that the four main pregnancy complications remain woefully under funded: recurrent miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction (abnormally small babies), pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy) and preterm delivery.
Wellbeing of Women recently set up the Baby Bio Bank to raise funds for projects that could provide the answers to the types of unanswered questions Amanda and the thousands like her are now facing.
It is a unique and comprehensive research resource, which involves collecting blood samples from the parents and placenta from the babies at risk from any of these complications.
The Baby Bio Bank is set to revolutionise research into pregnancy complications, based on investigating how far these are inherited.
Based at The Institute of Child Health, University College London and St. Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College London, the project is being headed up by Professor Lesley Regan, internationally acclaimed obstetrician and gynaecologist and recurrent miscarriage expert and Professor Gudrun Moore, genetics specialist in pregnancy complications and intrauterine growth restriction.
Tony Falconer, the President of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Wellbeing of Women explains that 'further research in this area, like that being undertaken by Wellbeing of Women will mean that the unanswered questions facing many individual women and couples in a similar position, will soon be answerable.
'Recent tragedies illustrate that everyone is vulnerable and such sadness’s around childbirth can afflict anyone.'
Wellbeing of Women’s Director Liz Campbell comments: "This is the first and most extensive database/biobank dedicated to complications in pregnancy in the world.
"The project is seeking over the long term to save the lives of thousands of women and their babies but, it needs parents to participate and donors to fund it to get the long term results so badly needed.
"Key to its success will be the research nurses who interact with the parents and collect the samples. The collection may take up to five years, faster if more funding is raised.
"Through this research we should be able to detect which mothers and babies may be at risk".
Wellbeing of Women has launched a Wall Puzzle at its headquarters at the Royal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Donors can buy a piece of a big jigsaw for a minimum donation of £500.
They can choose the number of their piece and their name is recorded on the Roll of Honour next to the puzzle. Each piece of the puzzle brings us a step closer to a better understanding of pregnancy and its complications.
Tagged in Amanda Holden Parenting