New Sands report highlights need for improved communication around babies’ movements in pregnancy

The UK’s pregnancy and baby loss charity Sands has recently published a new Learning and Impact Report that sheds light on how healthcare professionals and parents discuss fetal movements during pregnancy.

The report, developed in collaboration with Dr Tomasina Stacey, midwife and Senior Lecturer in Midwifery and Maternal Health Research at King’s College London, identifies key gaps and opportunities for improvement in UK maternity care.

Improving information and guidance about fetal movements: a horizon scanning project 
Learning and Impact Report is the result of work made possible by funding from Teddy’s Wish, which explored how awareness and communication around babies’ movements can be strengthened to support safer pregnancies.

Through extensive engagement with parents, healthcare professionals, and key stakeholders, the project identified significant variation in how fetal movement is discussed and understood.

The parents who took part – both bereaved and non-bereaved – described feeling uncertain about what kinds of movements are normal and when to seek medical advice. This uncertainty often persists even in pregnancies that receive regular antenatal care.

A bereaved mother who took part in the project said: “In every pregnancy I’ve had, I’ve never really known when I should be feeling it. I’ve never really known what kind of pattern I should be looking out for.”

It’s vital that women feel able to report changes in their baby or babies’ movements, as fetal movements are known to be a potential indicator of complications in late pregnancy.

While the care women should receive is established, there is currently a knowledge gap about which approaches to sharing information and guidance are most helpful and accessible for parents.

Clea Harmer, Sands’ Chief Executive, said: “As part of our long-standing commitment to saving babies’ lives in the UK, raising awareness of the importance of monitoring babies’ movements is a vital element of improving maternity safety.

“This latest work reveals the complexity of the issue and the need for more nuanced, evidence-informed conversations between healthcare providers and parents. This project wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Teddy’s Wish, and we are deeply grateful to them and to everyone who contributed their experiences and insights.”

The report findings highlight the need for more consistent guidance and professional training, as well as better public messaging that is both empowering and informative for expectant parents. The report also lays out suggested priority actions for improvement across healthcare, research, and policy.

Jennifer Reid, CEO of Teddy’s Wish said: “We are so pleased to continue our partnership with Sands to fund vital research that will improve communication around babies’ movements in pregnancy. Clear, informed conversations can make a real difference in supporting expectant parents and saving lives, and we’re proud to help drive this important work forward.”

Sands is here to support everyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby, however recently or longer ago. Find out about all the ways the charity offers support.

The charity is also working with researchers, healthcare professionals, policy-makers and MPs to put bereaved parents voices at the heart of efforts to improve maternity safety and save babies’ lives.

Source: Sands

Image: Canva

Staff Writer