Safer Baby Bundle
In Australia, 6 babies are born still every day. The Safer Baby initiative aims to help women understand the things
they can do to reduce their risk of stillbirth.
This initiative is being led by the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (Stillbirth
CRE) in partnership with health departments
across Australia.
The Safer Baby Bundle is a 5-element bundle of care designed to reduce known risk factors for stillbirth. Steps you
can take to have a healthier pregnancy can be seen on the Safer Baby Bundle website.
The five elements include:
Safer Baby is a national initiative using the latest research to provide pregnant women with best practice care and improved information about how to have a safer pregnancy and reduce their risk of stillbirth.
The birth of a baby who is stillborn is a profoundly devastating experience for parents, their extended families and friends, and their healthcare providers. With the knowledge that many stillbirths could be prevented through better understanding and care during pregnancy, we introduce the Safer Baby Initiative with a goal to reduce the rate of stillbirths in Australia by 20%. Resources for parents have been developed, including flyers & booklets, videos, and translated resources into multiple languages. Head to SaferBaby.org.au to find out more.
Resources
Culturally adapted resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Having a safer and healthy pregnancy is the aim for all families.
While having Sorry Business Babies (stillbirth) is unlikely for most women, there are a few key things to do to keep bubba safe.
The Stronger Bubba Born resources for First Nations Communities, and the Growing a Healthy Baby resources for migrant and refugee communities, were developed over several years, and co-designed and tested with communities. These adapted resources demonstrate what we can achieve when we work together with the common goal of ensuring all communities have care and resources that meet their needs.
- Stronger Bubba Born resources for First Nations communities, along with the Growing A Healthy Baby resources for migrant and refugee communities.
- The Growing a Healthy Baby provides adapted information to watch, read and listen for Arabic, Dari, Dinka and Karen speaking communities.
- The Stronger Bubba Born resources introduce five evidence-based areas for pregnant women to focus on that can reduce the number of Sorry Business Babies (Stillbirths) among Indigenous communities.
- Recently published new videos, fact sheets and eLearning modules for healthcare professionals on learn.stillbirthcre.org.au/ .
- The Safer Baby Bundle eLearning course has been updated and new eLearning courses, titled Stronger Bubba Born Healthy Yarning Guide and Partnering with families of refugee & migrant backgrounds, are now live.
- A new eLearning course, videos and fact sheet will also be available soon for interpreters working in maternity settings.
- Five newly completed translations of the Safer Baby information for Amharic, Farsi, Kirundi, Somali and Tamil speaking communities.
Translated resources:
Safer Baby information is translated in 30 languages, and four languages have been adapted for communities disproportionately impacted by stillbirth, can be found here: Translated Resources | Safer Baby - Working Together to Reduce Stillbirth
Culturally adapted initiatives:
Culturally adapted Safer Baby resources for Arabic, Dari, Dinka and Karen speaking communities. In-language booklets, videos and digital (audio) booklets co-designed with communities and health educators, can be seen here: Multicultural Initiative | Safer Baby - Working Together to Reduce Stillbirth
Support after the loss of your baby:
Support services, online resources and information (external site) for parents and families whose baby was stillborn.
The loss of a baby during pregnancy or soon after:
The loss of a baby during pregnancy or soon after birth is devastating for families, with enduring psychosocial and emotional impacts. Families need appropriate bereavement support, yet access to services is often limited. The Living with Loss (LWL) program is a new online support option for those who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss. LWL has been carefully created for you by parents, health professionals, researchers and support organisations, and can be seen here: Living with Loss: A new online program for pregnancy and baby loss | The Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (stillbirthcre.org.au)
PathWest information
Pathwest
PathWest’s perinatal pathology services (external site) supports families all over WA affected by the death of a child shortly after or before birth by giving them an opportunity to understand the reasons for their loss.
Offering a state-wide service that includes:
- Non-coronial post mortem examinations of your baby
- Viewings with parents and their families to spend time with their baby
- Cremations for stillborn babies of less than 28 weeks gestation
- Mementos in the form of photographs and hand & foot prints (if possible).
Comfort, support and more information
Aside from your family, friends and the health professionals involved in caring for you and your baby, there are agencies that can offer you support. Further information can be found on the PathWest website.