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OBJECTIVE: To develop global consensus on a set of evidence-based core principles for bereavement care after stillbirth.METHODS: A modified policy-Delphi methodology was used to consult international stakeholders and healthcare workers with experience in stillbirth between September 2017 and October 2018 Five sequential rounds involved two expert stakeholder meetings and three internet-based surveys, including a global internet-based survey targeted at healthcare workers in a wide range of settings.RESULTS: Initially, 23 expert stakeholders considered 43 evidence-based themes derived from systematic reviews, identifying 10 core principles. The global survey received 236 responses from participants in 26 countries, after which nine principles met a priori criteria for inclusion. The final stakeholder meeting and internet-based survey of all participants confirmed consensus on eight core principles. Highest quality bereavement care should be enabled through training of healthcare staff to reduce stigma and establish respectful care, including acknowledgement and support for grief responses, and provision for physical and psychologic needs. Women and families should be supported to make informed choices, including those concerning their future reproductive health.CONCLUSION: Consensus was established for eight principles for stillbirth bereavement care. Further work should explore implementation and involve the voices of women and families globally.

A handbook for parents-to-be attending the Preparation for Birth and Parenthood Education programme at Cork University Maternity Hospital.

Healthcare professionals are encountering more andmore women with cardiac conditions contemplating pregnancyor when pregnant than ever before. Advances insurgical treatment of congenital cardiac anomalies meanmany more women are now reaching childbearing age andcontemplating pregnancy than would hitherto have beenseen.Due to the fact that Irish figures have not been availablethus far on the effects of cardiac disease on pregnancy andvice versa, we have come to rely on statistics from our nearestneighbour the UK. The Centre for Maternal and ChildEnquiries (CMACE) is an independent charity. Its missionis to improve the health of mothers, babies and children bycarrying out confidential enquiries and other related workon a UK wide basis and widely disseminating the results. Itproduces a report every three years into maternal fatalitiesin the previous three-year period. The most recent reportwas published in 2007, reflecting the deaths that occurredin 2002-2005. In the most recent CMACE triennial reportinto maternal mortality (2002-2005) for the first time cardiacdisease was found to be the leading cause of maternaldeath among women in the UK, with a maternal mortalityrate for heart disease of 2.27 per 100,000 maternities.