Search Results

Maternal deaths are an outrage

"In the 21st century, no woman should have to give her life to give life."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ( Reuters 19 May)

"We must find a way to get maternal mortality recognized as a key indicator of a functioning health system. Let us work together to make sure maternal mortality is a …

Rising GAS

… at the moment, then there will be more cases of childbed fever as well, one could assume. Let the doctors and midwives be aware and be alert, lest it result in more death.

Thank you so much

… and family of mine/Jessica's have signed it but many others as well - including midwives and doctors - showing that there is real need and desire for simple change that can have such a positive impact on lives.

I'd really like to encourage everyone to ask partners, friends, family and colleagues to sign as well, and there is no minimum (or maximum) age! If you passed the link on to ten …

Help us by signing our petition

… recognition of childbed fever (also known as puerperal fever and genital tract sepsis) and that doctors and midwives are given clear sepsis guidelines."

More information

Childbed fever is a serious form of postnatal septicaemia which can lead to toxic shock syndrome, organ failure and death.  In 2003-05 sepsis accounted for 14% of maternal deaths in the UK. A complication free …

In the grip

… means that childbed fever does not reach epidemic rates of occurrence - it is not being spread by doctors or midwives. What has not changed is that streptococcus, the cause that Gordon et al couldn't have known of, is still with us. It may wax and wane in prevalence, but it is in us, on us and with us at all times. It is still causing deaths from childbed fever.

We cannot assume that hand …

Extracted

This morning I read the extract of Friday's Child, in the Daily Mail . It's strange, reading my words in such a condensed form. They are my words, and it is my story, but only such a small part of it.

It is humbling to read the comments people have left under the story, and so many. Really …

Mrs Nitu Bajekal MBBS, MD (Obs & Gynae), MRCOG (UK)

… in North London. Between 2002 and 2008, she was also the Royal College Tutor for training junior doctors in the hospital.

She has a special interest in Ectopic Pregnancy, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Recurrent Miscarrage. She is actively involved in high risk Obstetrica and is the Lead for HIV pregnancy and women with Female genital mutilation (FGM) and Teenage pregnancies.

Over the …

Why, Daddy?

… 'Why did Mummy die? What is an infection anyway? Why do people die too early? How did the doctors know she was dead?'

I tried to field the questions as best I could, in suitable language, without causing extra alarm, worry or distress, but still they came.

'What medicine did they give Mummy? How did she actually die? What other question would be a good one to ask, Daddy?'

I can't …

An Inspector Calls

I had a visit from the VAT Inspector this morning. I got a bit behind with my VAT Returns and they wanted to make sure I wasn't up to no good.

Business has been slow to non existant for the past few years, so it didn't take long and we soon started to talk about what I was doing now. I showed …

Woman's Hour - Childbed Fever

… of the past. They highlight the pain and agony of dying from this terrible disease, and how doctors used to be the cause of epidemics - by spreading it - but unfortunately there was no mention of the underlying natural causes - so often Group A streptococcus, a community bacterium.

Towards the end there is recognition of the fact that 16 women died of it in the mid 1990s, and that one …