Seeing and holding your baby – Campaign Update June 25th 2010

                               
We are delighted to confirm that following detailed discussions with NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) about their guidance on seeing and holding a stillborn baby an implementation guidance statement has been agreed.

 The statement now makes it absolutely clear that parents should always be offered a choice about whether or not they want to see and hold their baby and that choice should be informed.

 We are also delighted that NICE has revised the wording in Understanding NICE Guidance: Information for people who use NHS services which we also had serious concerns about. This now makes it clear that parents should be offered a choice about whether or not they want to see and hold their stillborn baby.

 You will recall that we launched a campaign in December 2009 to ensure that bereaved parents continue to be offered choice about seeing and holding their baby after death.

 The need for our campaign arose because guidance issued by NICE to midwifery units and to bereaved parents on seeing and holding a baby after he or she has died may have been open to misinterpretation. Sands was deeply concerned that the recommendations could imply that choice was being removed from parents over whether they see and hold their baby after death.

 We are understandably over the moon that NICE has clarified their guidance on seeing and holding a stillborn baby as we have always believed that parents have a fundamental right to see their own baby, and no health professional, however well meaning, has the right to deny them this choice.

 We would like to say a huge thank you to over 4 ,500 of you who signed up to our petition, plus all those who shared their stories with the media and lent us their advice and support, your help has been truly invaluable.

 Very best wishes,
The Seeing and Holding Campaign Team

Please see below the clarification statement and updated guidance for NHS users:

 CG45 Antenatal Postnatal Mental Health Guideline – clarification statement:

 NICE recommendation 1.3.1.4 currently says:

Mothers whose infants are stillborn or die soon after birth should not be routinely encouraged to see and hold the dead infant.  These women should be offered an appropriate follow up appointment in primary or secondary care.

 Clarification statement:

 “This recommendation is not intended to suggest that women should not be given the choice of seeing and holding their baby but rather that they should not be routinely encouraged to take up this choice if they do not wish to.

 In line with patient-centred care it is expected that treatment and care should take into account the woman’s individual needs and preferences. Sensitive support will be required in offering this choice or other choices such as seeing or holding the baby with other family members present. Current evidence suggests that seeing and holding the baby is not beneficial for everyone and if women do not wish to see or hold their baby they should not be encouraged to do so.”

Understanding NICE Guidance: Information for people who use NHS services – updated guidance:

Although most babies are born healthy, sadly some babies die. If your baby is stillborn or dies soon after birth, it is your choice whether or not you wish to see or hold your baby, and your health professional should support you in making this decision. There is some evidence to suggest that seeing and holding the baby may not be helpful for everyone. You should not be routinely encouraged to see and hold your baby if you do not wish to. You should be offered a follow-up appointment either at the hospital or through your GP.

Please follow the link to the NICE website for further information http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG45