Mums-to-be to receive ‘wellbeing wallets’

26 January 2018

Mums-to-be are to be given new ‘wellbeing wallets’ by The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) as part of a national scheme to reduce the risk of stillbirths.

From 28 January, MAMA Academy Wellbeing Wallets are being distributed to all pregnant women at their first booking appointment at SaTH, thanks to the MAMA Academy and generous funding from the charity, Teddy’s Wish. The wallets act as a means of relaying essential health messages to expectant mothers – something which they carry with them at all times.

The MAMA Academy wallets are robust plastic zip-lock pouches in which pregnant women keep their handheld antenatal notes, and which they regularly read as their pregnancy progresses. The wallets ensure that notes are kept protected. They are also printed with important advice regarding the mother’s health, and that of her baby. This ensures that key messages, such as monitoring the baby’s movements, become second nature to the woman.

Anthea Gregory-Page, Deputy Head of Midwifery at SaTH, said: “These wallets have already proven that they make a difference, and we would like to thank MAMA Academy for gifting them to us. They will be given out to all new bookings from 28 January.”

An initial pilot funded by NHS England, saw 80,000 wallets distributed within 15 NHS Trusts across the country. Nearly all of the Trusts reported a significant decrease in stillbirth rates whilst the wallets were in use. Midwives noticed that women regularly read the information printed on their wallet whilst waiting for appointments, and encouraged them to act on concerns rather than ignore them.

MAMA Academy is a national organisation set up in 2012 to help more babies arrive safely.