Search Results

Help us by signing our petition

… on the Downing Street website, asking the Prime Minister to...

"...ensure that every new mother has regular observations recorded on a Modified Early Obstetric Warning System ( MEOWS ) chart in hospital and in the community and is given clear information and advice on the recognition of childbed fever (also known as puerperal fever and genital tract sepsis) and that doctors and …

She doesn’t know her mother is dead

… the Sunday's, I came across a heart rending story about Karmeh, who still doesn't know her mother died of post-partum sepsis.

Developing world childbirth is far, far more dangerous than it is, for example, in this country, but I believe that charity begins at home and that means fixing the problems at home as well. The work that so many organisations - such as the White Ribbon …

1-2-3, Go

… in the pages of this website, but I have now turned it into a 1-2-3 wishlist.

1. Every new mother to be handed a leaflet or card with information about childbed fever and its symptoms.

For example, our leaflet or a version of it. The Meningitis card handed out to new mothers is really effective and the simple information shown is widely known now. All parents and their families need …

MEOWS

… one time and a doctor is required for 'early intervention'.

It is so graphically obvious, and a mother's history so clearly charted that, the idea is, a mother who is developing a critical condition will be treated before it is too late.

Sepsis (for example) is often already life threatening by the time it is clinically obvious. Therefore the best opportunity to intervene is based on the …

The reality of maternal mortality: a father's perspective

… about this. It was my missed opportunity.

Unfortunately, the midwife was too busy, with too many mothers, to visit the next day, but I told her on the telephone about Jessica's temperature and so she recommended paracetemol for the fever, should it return, and promised to visit the next day, Sunday.

Had the discharge form mentioned the problem or concerns in hospital, again with hindsight, I …

Many returns

… she has started, of the same teacher in the same classroom. How happy Emily will be. How proud a mother Jessica would have been.

But enough of holidays and school. I must also reverse the partially deliberate neglection of the blog and Jessica's Trust. I must pick up the reins and gallop into the enormous amount of work, the Charity Commission's queries, notes that need be written for the …

Anniversary request

Four years ago today, a good mother died unnecessarily from an archaic illness. The world may not have noticed immediately, but the three year old boy crying in his bed, the six day old girl feeding in her father's arms and the grieving widower did.

Together the three of us have kicked, screamed and cried at more than one …

In the grip

… It is still causing deaths from childbed fever.

We cannot assume that hand washing makes our mothers safe. We can't vaccinate and we can't wash it out of the world, but we can spot the symptoms of its infection while there is still time to treat a mother before she requires long term hospitalisation, a hysterectomy or she dies.

Thank you

Since the launch of Friday's Child and last weekend's coverage I have been flooded with comments, emails, letters and calls. It is so moving and rewarding to receive them all, and I may be slow but I am getting up to date with replying.

Trying to keep up makes me think that I am not giving a …

Double dose

Yesterday's extract of Friday's Child in the Daily Mail caused a huge response, which still stuns me this morning.

To everyone who has contacted me: Thank you. I am replying as fast as I can!

The extract was from my book Friday's Child which is the story of what happened back then. Today …