In February this year Coronation Street’s Kym Marsh gave birth to baby boy Archie at just 22 weeks. Sadly he died after a few moments of life.
There are over 50 000 babies born prematurely each year in the UK - this is one of the highest rates in Europe and it’s still rising, yet there is currently no accurate screening test available to identify women at risk. Prematurity is the greatest cause of infant death in Britain.
Feeling that the issue of prematurity is not at the top of the agenda for the decision makers Kym decided to use her own grief and experience to highlight it.
“I’m hoping in doing this programme that I might go someway to finding some kind of answer as to as to why these things might go wrong with pregnancies," Kym says. "But also I’m hoping to raise some more awareness of the situation because I think not enough is known about it.
"We need to do something more towards the research into premature birth so that we can prevent some premature births from happening. It would also be good to meet other people that have been in the same situation as myself because it just makes you feel a bit more normal.”
She visits neo natal units to meet other parents of premature babies who are fighting for life – and finds that the majority have no answers as to why they gave birth early. Kym asks why when you consider that the cost of prematurity to the NHS is close to a billion pounds a year the government is not ring fencing money for research into the causes of and preventions for early labour. And she finds comfort in meeting other parents.
“When something like that happens to you, you feel on your own, especially when you see other people going in and out with their babies," Kym says. "You sit there and feel like you’re the only person it's ever happened to. When you meet other people and get the chance to talk to people that see that situation a lot or that have been there themselves then you feel like you have some support there.”
Kym also looks into the shortages of beds and services in some areas and meets a family living with disability as a result of their son’s prematurity.
In the final stage of her journey Kym meets Health Minister Ann Keen.
The actress adds: “I’m looking forward to chatting with somebody from the government who might be able to help make a difference. In my opinion at the moment not enough is done by the government with regard to the funding of research and things like that, so I’m hoping maybe we might be able to twist somebody's arm!”
www.bliss.org.uk/
Bliss, the special care baby charity, provides vital support and care to premature and sick babies across the UK.
www.babylifeline.org.uk
Baby Lifeline - The Mother & Baby Charity.
www.tommys.org
Tommy's funds research into pregnancy problems and provides information to parents.
www.scope.org.uk/
Scope is a UK disability organisation whose focus is on people with cerebral palsy.
www.dh.gov.uk/
Official website of UK Department of Health, the government department responsible for public health issues.
www.rcm.org.uk/
Registered trade union for midwives, with news, educational resources and journal.
www.bwhct.nhs.uk/
Birmingham Women's Hospital. Centre of excellence for specialist healthcare for women and their families in the West Midlands
www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/biohealth/research/rhed/pis/lposton.html
Professor Lucilla Poston - Professor of Maternal and Fetal Health, Director of Division, Kings College London.
www.leedsteachinghospitals.com
Professor James Walker - Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and President for Baby Lifeline Training
www.pannone.com/
Pannone LLP is a full service law firm with clients split almost equally between businesses and private individuals.
www.glofamily.com/
Offer a unique range of Lamaze Childbirth Preparation Courses and Pre/Postnatal Fitness Classes in Manchester & Cheshire.
www.iristherapies.co.uk/
Emma Critchley qualified baby massage instructor.
www.takeapeek3d.com/
Take a Peek - Private 3D baby scanning service.
Supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby and promoting research due to reduce the loss of babies’ lives.
Photographs featured in the programme
www.helenturton.co.uk/
Photographer
www.nicolakurtz.com
Photographer
www.nct.org.uk
NCT (National Childbirth Trust)
0300 330 0770
With thanks to Roy McCabe Photography
