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Objective: To compare intramuscular oxytocin, Syntometrine® and carbetocin for prevention of postpartum haemorrhage after vaginal birth. Design: Randomised double‐blinded clinical trial. Setting: Six hospitals in England. Population: A total of 5929 normotensive women having a singleton vaginal birth. Methods: Randomisation when birth was imminent. Main outcome measures: Primary: use of additional uterotonic agents. Secondary: weighed blood loss, transfusion, manual removal of placenta, adverse effects, quality of life. Results: Participants receiving additional uterotonics: 368 (19.5%) oxytocin, 298 (15.6%) Syntometrine and 364 (19.1%) carbetocin. When pairwise comparisons were made: women receiving carbetocin were significantly more likely to receive additional uterotonics than those receiving Syntometrine (odds ratio [OR] 1.28, 95% CI 1.08–1.51, P = 0.004); the difference between carbetocin and oxytocin was non‐significant (P = 0.78); Participants receiving Syntometrine were significantly less likely to receive additional uterotonics than those receiving oxytocin (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65–0.91, P = 0.002). Non‐inferiority between carbetocin and Syntometrine was not shown. Use of Syntometrine reduced non‐drug PPH treatments compared with oxytocin (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42–0.97) but not carbetocin (P = 0.64). Rates of PPH and blood transfusion were not different. Syntometrine was associated with an increase in maternal adverse effects and reduced ability of the mother to bond with her baby. Conclusions: Non‐inferiority of carbetocin to Syntometrine was not shown. Carbetocin is not significantly different to oxytocin for use of additional uterotonics. Use of Syntometrine reduced use of additional uterotonics and need for non‐drug PPH treatments compared with oxytocin. Increased maternal adverse effects are a disadvantage of Syntometrine. IM carbetocin does not reduce additional uterotonic use compared with IM Syntometrine or oxytocin. IM carbetocin does not reduce additional uterotonic use compared with IM Syntometrine or oxytocin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Parent engagement in perinatal mortality review meetings following stillbirth may benefit parents and improve patient safety. We investigated perinatal mortality review meeting practices, including the extent of parent engagement, based on self‐reports from healthcare professionals from maternity care facilities in six high‐income countries. Design: Cross‐sectional online survey. Setting: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK and USA. Population: A total of 1104 healthcare professionals, comprising mainly obstetricians, gynaecologists, midwives and nurses. Methods: Data were drawn from responses to a survey covering stillbirth‐related topics. Open‐ and closed‐items that focused on 'Data quality on causes of stillbirth' were analysed. Main outcome measures: Healthcare professionals' self‐reported practices around perinatal mortality review meetings following stillbirth. Results: Most clinicians (81.0%) were aware of regular audit meetings to review stillbirth at their maternity facility, although this was true for only 35.5% of US respondents. For the 854 respondents whose facility held regular meetings, less than a third (31.1%) reported some form of parent engagement, and this was usually in the form of one‐way post‐meeting feedback. Across all six countries, only 17.1% of respondents described an explicit approach where parents provided input, received feedback and were represented at meetings. Conclusions: We found no established practice of involving parents in the perinatal mortality review process in six high‐income countries. Parent engagement may hold the key to important lessons for stillbirth prevention and care. Further understanding of approaches, barriers and enablers is warranted. Parent engagement in mortality review after stillbirth is rare, based on data from six countries. We need to understand the barriers. Parent engagement in mortality review after stillbirth is rare, based on data from six countries. We need to understand the barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: COVID‐19, the respiratory disease caused by SARS‐CoV‐2, is thought to cause a milder illness in pregnancy with a greater proportion of asymptomatic carriers. This has important implications for the risk of patient‐to‐staff, staff‐to‐staff and staff‐to‐patient transmission among health professionals in maternity units. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of previously undiagnosed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in health professionals from two tertiary‐level maternity units in London, UK, and to determine associations between healthcare workers' characteristics, reported symptoms and serological evidence of prior SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. In total, 200 anaesthetists, midwives and obstetricians, with no previously confirmed diagnosis of COVID‐19, were tested for immune seroconversion using laboratory IgG assays. Comprehensive symptom and medical histories were also collected. Five out of 40 (12.5%; 95%CI 4.2–26.8%) anaesthetists, 7/52 (13.5%; 95%CI 5.6–25.8%) obstetricians and 17/108 (15.7%; 95%CI 9.5–24.0%) midwives were seropositive, with an overall total of 29/200 (14.5%; 95%CI 9.9–20.1%) of maternity healthcare workers testing positive for IgG antibodies against SARS‐CoV‐2. Of those who had seroconverted, 10/29 (35.5%) were completely asymptomatic. Fever or cough were only present in 6/29 (21%) and 10/29 (35%) respectively. Anosmia was the most common symptom occurring in 15/29 (52%) seropositive participants and was the only symptom that was predictive of positive seroconversion (OR 18; 95%CI 6–55). Of those who were seropositive, 59% had not self‐isolated at any point and continued to provide patient care in the hospital setting. This is the largest study of baseline immune seroconversion in maternity healthcare workers conducted to date and reveals that one out of six were seropositive, of whom one out of three were asymptomatic. This has significant implications for the risk of occupational transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 for both staff and patients in maternity units. Regular testing of staff, including asymptomatic staff should be considered to reduce transmission risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The PARENTS 1 study (Parents' Active Role and ENgagement in The review of their Stillbirth/perinatal death) found that parents would endorse the opportunity to give feedback into the perinatal mortality review (PNMR) process. In subsequent focus groups, healthcare professionals were positive about parental engagement, although they considered that there may be significant challenges. The objective of this study was to develop core principles and recommendations for parental engagement in PNMR in the UK.Methods: A two-round Delphi technique was followed to reach consensus on core principles for parental engagement in the PNMR process; Round 1 included a national consensus workshop and Round 2 an online questionnaire. The consensus meeting was attended by a national panel of stakeholders (clinical and academic experts, parent advocates, managers and commissioners) in stillbirth and neonatal and bereavement care. To develop recommendations for parental engagement, participants discussed four key areas comprising: communication with parents, including receiving feedback; the format of the PNMR meeting; the parental engagement pathway; and challenging aspects of engaging with parents in reviews. Content analysis was conducted to generate recommendations from the meeting for a subsequent anonymous web-based survey. Attendees of the consensus workshop and members of the PARENTS 2 Project Advisory Board were asked to rank recommendations using a 9-point Likert scale from 1 (not important) to 9 (critically important). It had been agreed a priori, in compliance with established Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria, that 'consensus' would be achieved if over 70% of participants scored the principle as 'critical' (score of 7-9) and fewer than 15% scored the principle as 'not important' (score of 1-3). Principles for which consensus was achieved were included in the core recommendations.Results: Of the 29 invited stakeholders, 22 participated in the consensus meeting and 25 (86% response rate) in the subsequent online questionnaire in June 2017. Consensus was agreed on 12 core principles. Of the 25 participants, 96% agreed that a face-to-face explanation of the PNMR process was of critical importance, 72% considered that parents should be offered the opportunity to nominate a suitable advocate, 92% believed that responses to parents' comments should be formally documented, 96% indicated that it was vital for action plans to be translated into lessons learnt and that this process should be monitored, and 100% of stakeholders voted that a plain-English summary should be produced for the parents following the meeting. There was good agreement on a further seven principles.Conclusions: Key national stakeholders were unanimously supportive of parental engagement in the PNMR process and agreed on core principles to make this process feasible, meaningful and robust. A 6-month pilot of parental engagement in the PNMR process (PARENTS 2 study) in two UK units took place after the consensus on core principles. In collaboration with the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, the findings will inform the national standardized PNMR tool. © 2018 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stillbirth has a profound impact on women, families, and healthcare workers. The burden is highest in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There is need for respectful and supportive care for women, partners, and families after bereavement.Objective: To perform a qualitative meta-summary of parents' and healthcare professionals' experiences of care after stillbirth in LMICs.Search Strategy: Search terms were formulated by identifying all synonyms, thesaurus terms, and variations for stillbirth. Databases searched were AMED, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, BNI, CINAHL.Selection Criteria: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method studies that addressed parents' or healthcare professionals' experience of care after stillbirth in LMICs.Data Collection and Analysis: Studies were screened, and data extracted in duplicate. Data were analysed using the Sandelowski meta-summary technique that calculates frequency and intensity effect sizes (FES/IES).Main Results: In all, 118 full texts were screened, and 34 studies from 17 countries were included. FES range was 15-68%. Most studies had IES 1.5-4.5. Women experience a broad range of manifestations of grief following stillbirth, which may not be recognised by healthcare workers or in their communities. Lack of recognition exacerbates negative experiences of stigmatisation, blame, devaluation, and loss of social status. Adequately developed health systems, with trained and supported staff, are best equipped to provide the support and information that women want after stillbirth.Conclusions: Basic interventions could have an immediate impact on the experiences of women and their families after stillbirth. Examples include public education to reduce stigma, promoting the respectful maternity care agenda, and investigating stillbirth appropriately.Tweetable Abstract: Reducing stigma, promoting respectful care and investigating stillbirth have a positive impact after stillbirth for women and families in LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discuss prevalence and prevention of stillbirths in response to the 2017 Every Woman Every Child (EWEC) progress report on the global strategy developed for women's and children's health. Topics explored include the occurrence of stillbirths in low- and middle-income nations, the integration of health interventions into maternal and newborn care practices, and the need to acknowledge psychological and psychosocial impact of stillbirths.

An introduction is presented in which the authors discuss the journal's post-publication peer review and research literacy enhancement through its club in the microblogging site, Twitter.

We studied a random sample of four teams of doctors and midwives who participated in a videotaped simulated obstetric emergency, postpartum haemorrhage, before and after 'on-site' clinical training. We aimed to assess the validity of mixed techniques for the analysis of team communication and whether clinical and non-clinical team training improve communication. Two of the four teams received extra training in specific teamwork behaviours (TW+), the other half received only clinical training (TW-). We used content analysis to identify changes in communication patterns. There was a reduction in the total number of communications after training. Teams that received additional teamwork training used more directed commands after training. When commands were directed to specific individuals, tasks were more likely to be acknowledged and performed. We conclude that 'on-site' clinical drills can improve team communication in simulated emergencies, and additional teamwork training might improve this further, but it has to be refined and made obstetric specific first. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to assess the effectiveness, safety and efficiency of a protocol combining fetal fibronectin diagnostic testing and atosiban tocolysis for the management of pre-term labour, using a combination of narrative review and economic modelling. We compared the proposed protocol to alternatives using nifedipine with or without fetal fibronectin. We have found that the proposed protocol may be safer and more acceptable by women than the alternatives, and its use can result in significant cost-savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical audit is an effective quality improvement process to evaluate important clinical issues. Breech presentation is such an issue due to its contribution to the rising caesarean section (CS) rate. We set out to assess the management of breech presentation using, as standards, the delivery suite protocol and national guidelines. Our first audit revealed a low success rate of external cephalic version (ECV) and deficient documentation of written consent for ECV, other aspects of care being satisfactory. The results were presented to a multidisciplinary meeting and disseminated to relevant stakeholders. A re-audit was then performed. It confirmed significant improvement in the documentation of consent for ECV. It also revealed a good detection rate of breech, optimal offer rate of ECV and good neonatal outcome. However, uptake of ECV as well as the success rate could both be improved so as to reduce the CS rate for breech presentation. We discuss options for improving the uptake and success rate for ECV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]