Every parent expects to experience the happiness of bringing home their new bundle of joy - but sometimes problems occur during pregnancy. The death of a baby before birth is a devastating event for the parents and families.
Sadly, almost 2,000 babies are stillborn every year in Australia. Associate Prof Vicki Flenady has worked passionately with mothers and babies for over 35 years.
As a midwife she witnessed the tragedy a stillbirth brings to a family. This experience inspired her to focus on research - to look at ways to prevent stillbirth from happening.
“When every mother can hold her healthy newborn baby, my job will be done,” explained Vicki, who works as Deputy Director of the Mater Mothers’ Research Centre (MMRC).
The rate of unexplained stillbirth is about three to four times the current rate of sudden infant death syndrome, yet despite this, little research has been done - and for more than two decades the rate of stillbirth hasn’t decreased.
The Mater Stillbirth Prevention Research Program operates in collaboration with six Queensland hospitals, and a further eight overseas, to improve care for pregnant women who experience reduced fetal movement. The MMRC’s latest study identifies that up to onethird of mothers in Australia are at risk of stillbirth, if they are overweight, smoke and over 35 years old when pregnant.
Two-thirds of stillbirths are a result of health conditions in the mother. Vicki feels privileged to be one of the people at the forefront of the research to sustain a baby’s life and says while they may never find a cause, they can certainly identify all the risk factors. “I love the work we do at the MMRC with parents who have had stillborn babies as it brings real perspective and understanding to the research.”
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