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Thank you to all the services that have completed the pregnancy after loss survey developed by the Stillbirth CRE and WHA. This is an important national survey that aims to gain a comprehensive picture of the services and models of care available to parents and families in a pregnancy following loss. Improving care for parents in subsequent pregnancies has been identified as a priority in the National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan.

Purpose of the study: The aim of this research is to gain an overview of current practices in Australia for women and families in a pregnancy following pregnancy loss (from 16 to 19 weeks gestation including termination of pregnancy for medical reasons), or stillbirth (from 20 weeks gestation), or neonatal death (a baby that has died within 28 days of life). We aim to explore the types of services currently available to parents including various models of care, how they are provided, variations across Australia (e.g. metropolitan, regional, rural settings) and identify examples of best practice care.

What does participation in this study involve: For each maternity service in Australia, we invite the following people to complete this survey on behalf of their maternity service:

• Executive Director of Clinical Services; or
• Director of Obstetrics & Gynaecology; or
• Director of Midwifery / Obstetrician; or
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist; or
• Midwifery Unit Manager (or equivalent)

This survey should be completed by each maternity service once and by a member of staff, such as Director of Obstetrics & Gynaecology or Midwifery, who has detailed knowledge of the models of care options available. The person best placed to complete this survey may vary across hospital settings. In larger hospitals, the Executive Director may pass this survey onto a senior medical or midwifery contact. If so, we ask that the Executive Director (or similar) has reviewed and approved the responses as an accurate reflection of your maternity service. In private hospitals, this might be the Midwifery Unit Manager or individual Obstetric Specialist. If this is not relevant to you, we would really appreciate you forwarding the survey to colleagues that may be able to assist.

To find out if your service has already participated in this research, please contact the Stillbirth CRE via email: [email protected]