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British maternity wards in crisis

Some very bleak reading, particularly in light of the recent CMACE report, Saving Mothers' Lives 2006-2008 which tells that sepsis now outranks even pre-eclampsia and eclampsia as the leading direct cause of maternal death. Deaths due to sepsis have risen from 18 in 2003-05 to 26 in 2006-08* - a staggering 44%.

Is it any wonder that we have headlines like this one: …

No.10 has responded to our petition. Or has it?

… of women and their babies (2006) which sets out what should happen.

It then quotes the Saving Mothers’ Lives report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE, 2007) which really says that more needs to be done.

Lastly there is another quoted recommendation for the use of MEOWS charts.

Most of these documents have been mentioned and linked to from this blog in the past. …

Maternal deaths are an outrage

… outrage that pregnancy and childbirth continue to kill 529,000 women and leave 1 million children motherless worldwide every year is, naturally, focussed on developing countries where childbirth is far more dangerous than we can imagine.

However, the words of our own Prime Minister's wife and the Secretary-General of the United Nations words at this week's World Health Organisation's annual …

MEOWS: Recommended

… them, and that figure is increasing as MEOWS is adopted Trust by Trust, even if only for high risk mothers. What is a high risk mother? Jessica wasn't but she died. Every mother should be followed for the first 10 days after delivery by her own MEOWS chart, I believe.

As for being a lone voice - this is what the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) said in it's top 10 …

Mrs Brown gives away a free plug

… Sarah Brown does great work for www.whiteribbonalliance.org, www.millionmums.org and www.mothersdayeveryday.org. I hope she realises that too many mothers die in this country as well, but she hasn't yet signed my petition to her husband, although you can.

Thank you to @StudyingOnline and @marketingwizdom for drawing it to my attention.

Life saving treatment wanted asap

… and often visit back. It was in this way that I came across a parenting forum this weekend.

A mother of three posted with a link to Jessica's Trust, urging people to read the information contained herein and, if they feel as strongly as she does, to sign the petition.

I was, though, dismayed to read a third reply to her post, from another mum, who didn't think that MEOWS charts were …

Topic for discussion

Maternal death is too uncomfortable a topic for discussion.

Please discuss in the comments.

…

Mother's Day Every Day

… trying to fix the problems at home, other nations really need our help.

Let's not forget their mothers either. The Mother's Day Every Day campaign is a brilliant idea.

Thank you so much

… starting to use Modified Early Obstetric Warning charts, but some use them only for 'at risk' mothers. I'd like to see them being used routinely for every new mum. They are a useful aid in quickly spotting a problem with a mother's health - for any reason - and can be an indication to all midwives and doctors involved that a woman needs prompt medical intervention.

Particularly in the …

Maternity units 'shut to mothers'

… country, but give them a chance - there simply aren't enough.

BBC: Maternity units 'shut to mothers'