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PROFESSIONALS COME TOGETHER TO REDUCE RISK OF MULTIPLE PREGNANCY

Doctors, embryologists, nurses, other clinical staff, patient groups and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) have come together to launch a new national strategy to reduce the number of multiple pregnancies – the single biggest health risk of fertility treatment.

Focusing initially on IVF, the strategy will aim to reduce the rate of multiple births from the national average of 24 per cent of all IVF births to 10 per cent over three years. In the first year (from January 2009), all clinics will be expected not to exceed the 24 per cent maximum.

Launched today in support of the strategy are:

• a jointly agreed mission statement,
• the One at a Time website containing authoritative information for professionals and patients, and
• a series of regional workshops for health professionals over the next few months.

New professional guidelines published by the British Fertility Society (BFS) and the Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE), setting out professional best practice, will be published in the journal Human Fertility in the next few weeks and will support professionals in their daily work.

Those involved in the development of the national strategy believe that change will only be facilitated through improved funding for assisted conception treatment.

Launching the strategy, Jane Denton, Director of the Multiple Birth Foundation, said:

“Infertility treatment requires dedicated professional teams to work together in helping patients make informed decisions about their treatment including the long term consequences of their choices. For many people who have gone through the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatment, the prospect of having an instant family with twins is very appealing.

“Through the One at a Time campaign and its website, we hope to give professionals, patients and the public authoritative information about multiple pregnancy and births to help them understand the risks and consequences and why the aim with each IVF treatment cycle should be to give the best chance of having one live, healthy baby. “

Alun Elias-Jones, Consultant Paediatrician and Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said:

“As doctors we have a duty to promote health and this includes considering not just the immediate desire for a child but the long term consequences of fertility treatment to the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies. The risk of an adverse outcome for a multiple birth is much greater than for singleton births. Some children have a traumatic start to life, extended stays in neonatal unit and others can have serious, long term health problems.

“For doctors like myself who care for these children through a lifetime of problems reducing the risks of multiple births is vital. With an increasing number of people undergoing fertility treatment each year it is important that all of us, professionals and patients, understand and address this issue.”

Rachel Cutting, Embryologist and member of the ACE executive committee, said:

“Latest advances in embryology now mean we can tackle the risks of multiple birth much more effectively than ever before. Professional guidelines written by the BFS and ACE will provide a clear, evidence based approach to judging embryo quality, the optimum time to transfer embryos and the importance of an effective cryopreservation programme. Embryologists are key to helping reduce multiple pregnancy.”

Dr Mark Hamilton, Chair of the BFS and Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist , said:

“Whilst we must do what we can to reduce the burden of multiple births, it is important that we need to see the 2004 NICE guidelines implemented in full around the UK for elective Single Embryo Transfer to be carried out in as many patients as is appropriate and possible.

“There is no one size fits all and treatment has to be decided in partnership and based on what’s best for the individual. However, if patients did not have to worry about finding the money for their own treatment this would certainly be much easier to implement.”

Further information about the campaign is available on the One at a Time website at: www.oneatatime.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. The national strategy stakeholder group was invited by the HFEA to develop the strategy following the publication of the HFEA Report “One Child at a Time” in October 2006. This report is available on the HFEA website at: www.hfea.gov.uk
2. The national strategy is supported by: Association of Clinical Embryologists, British Fertility Society, British Infertility Counselling Association, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, Infertility Network UK, Multiple Births Foundation, Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
3. One in four IVF births in the UK results in twins or triplets compared to 1 in 80 births following natural conception.
4. Multiple pregnancy can significantly increase the likelihood of dying, prematurity and low birth weight. It can also lead to long term health problems for children such as cerebral palsy and risks to mothers such as pre-eclampsia, diabetes and heart disease.
5. The regional workshops will take place in: London (18 July), Birmingham (1 August), Glasgow (22 August) and Leeds (28 August).

For further information please contact Brenda Irons-Roberts at the HFEA Press Office on 020 7291 8224.

The More Than One Charity Celebration of Multiple Births

The More Than One Charity aims to raise awareness of the work done by The Women's Services Directorate based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne. The Celebration of Multiple Births which takes place on Sunday 2 1st September at Leazes Park, Newcastle upon Tyne will raise funds to purchase essential equipment and teaching materials needed in the safe delivery of twins, triplets and quads.
Please click here for further information.
www.morethan1.org.uk

Being Dad….

Film company seeking new dads as participants in a documentary series "Being Dad", participants require no film experience. The films track a dad’s journey through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. It includes interviews with over 60 new dads discussing their experiences.

Filming takes about 2 hours and you'll join five other dads in a relaxed environment talking about everything from conception to birth and bringing the baby home. This is a great opportunity to be a part of the first UK and Irish film that inspires and informs future dads to be.

If you'd like to be involved and you are a father who has children, 3 years of age or younger and live in or near Central London, Bath, Manchester, Edinburgh or Dublin email your contact details to Kara Cooley at beingdaduk@sky.com

NURSES VOTE TO LOBBY GOVERNMENT OVER INFERTILITY TREATMENT

28th April 2008

Nurses agreed today that the Government must take action to ensure infertile women are given three cycles of IVF on the NHS.

They want to see the end of some women being able to access free fertility treatment while others are forced to pay for care.

Four years ago, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) said women should be given three cycles of IVF on the NHS in England.

At this time John Reid promised one cycle each but stopped short of setting out a timetable for when the NHS would implement the full guideline to give women three chances.

A Department of Health survey of primary care trusts (PCTs) released last year showed that few trusts have implemented the Nice guideline in full.

Nurses have voted nine to one to lobby the Government to ensure NHS trusts implemented the guidance.

Jane Denton, from the Royal College of Nursing's fertility group, told the annual conference in Bournemouth: "At a personal level it takes a lot of courage to acknowledge a problem.

"It discourages me that even now when people go forward for treatment it's an enormous battle every step of the way.

"It adds to the pain and what many see as the stigma of infertility. The importance of the Nice guidance is essential."

Last year, a survey of 151 PCTs for the Department of Health showed that some imposed a range of different lifestyle, health and age tests to restrict provision of NHS fertility treatment.

For further information on the NICE guildelines mentioned in this article please click on the following links:

New NHS Guidelines On Fertility Treatment

Evaluation and Review of NICE Implementation Evidence ERNIE

Splash some cash!

Tommy's, the baby charity, is encouraging babies, toddlers and young children to have some splashing fun, and raise money into the bargain, by taking part in the most unmissable water event of the year - Splashathon 2008, sponsored by Splash About, the baby swimwear specialists, and supported by First Choice.

Tommy's Splashathon is a simple idea which encourages parents to have fun with their little ones by helping them 'splash' a length or width of their local pool. After 10 successful years, Tommy's is hoping this summer's FREE event, taking place in May and June, will be its most successful Splashathon ever, beating last year's which raised £200,000 to fund research into the causes of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth.

Everyone who takes part has the chance to win some fantastic prizes:

• The organiser of the Splashathon which raises the most money will win a family break
• Every splasher to raise over £40 and return their sponsorship money by August 31st 2008 will win a prize
• Each pool and swim school to take part will go into a draw to win £1,000 worth of new pool equipment

Emmerdale actress Sammy Winward, says: "Not only is the Splashathon a fun and healthy event for all involved but it's in aid of a fantastic cause too - count me in!" Meanwhile, longstanding Tommy's supporter, Dr Miriam Stoppard, is keen to promote the health benefits of Splashathon: "Getting your baby into the water from an early age is fantastic for a child's development. It improves co-ordination, balance and core muscle development, giving them a full but gentle physical work out and strengthening the baby's heart, lungs and respiratory system, which in turn, aids cognitive development."

Desri Goodwin from Splash About, said: "We're delighted to be supporting such a fantastic initiative. Splashathon is not only a fun way to introduce children to the pool, but it will help raise money for a really important cause too." With over 20 years experience, Splash About designs innovative swimwear products that provide parents with peace of mind, and that children love to wear. For a full range of products, visit www.splashabout.com

Information.

Registration for Splashathon 2008 is open now. For further information call the Splashathon hotline on 08707 70 70 69 or log on to www.splashathon.org

Tommy's, the baby charity needs YOU!

As part of its awareness raising  programme to highlight the issues of
pregnancy complications, Tommy's, the baby charity is looking to speak to pregnant women and mothers of young children about their experiences of pregnancy, who might be interested in acting as case studies for the charity.  Tommy's is always keen to speak to anyone who has experienced first hand the type of pregnancy complications that the charity works towards preventing, including: Miscarriage, Premature birth, Pre-eclampsia, Toxoplasmosis (during pregnancy), Stillbirth.

When highlighting new pregnancy research, or promoting ways to maximise pregnancy health, Tommy's often receives requests from magazines, newspapers and television programmes, who would like to speak to our case studies, to highlight to the wider public the effects that pregnancy complications can have on a family, as well as providing comfort to others who may have gone through something similar.  Tommy's keeps an extensive, confidential database of potential case studies who have approached Tommy's with their stories.  Once a suitable press opportunity presents itself that Tommy's believes will be sensitively handled, a member of the charity's press team will then contact the individual to find out if it is something they would
like to take part in.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a Tommy's case study can contact their press team for a brief chat, details of which will then be added to the charity's case study database.  All information provided will be kept strictly confidential and no case study will be approached by a journalist without their prior consent. Anyone wanting to get involved, should contact Kristy MacLeod on 0207 398 3440 / kmacleod@tommys.org
July 2007

MBF Director honoured in Queen's Birthday Honours list
We are proud to announce that Jane Denton, MBF Director, was awarded a CBE for services to healthcare in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June.
July 2007



Autism Spectrum Disorders: Research into genetic and environmental factors.
Are you a parent of twins (or multiples) where at least one child has been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder?

If so, we would like to invite you and your children to take part in an exciting new research study looking at genetic and environmental factors that may predispose a child to autism.

The Social Relationships Study is led by Dr Francesca Happé and Prof Patrick Bolton of King's College London.

If you are interested in participating or would like to know more about the study, please contact the Social Relationships Study team, freephone 0800 803 0919 or email srs.team@iop.kcl.ac.uk and we will send you an information pack.

This study has received ethical approval from the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust Ethical Committee (No: 06/Q0704/160).
May 2007



MBF GRANT FROM THE BIG LOTTERY FUND
The Multiple Births Foundation (MBF) been awarded a grant of £141,132 from the the Big Lottery Fund for a project on feeding multiple birth babies.

"The Multiple Births Foundation is delighted to receive this grant. Working in collaboration with the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU), it will enable us to produce evidence-based guidance to assist the practice of healthcare professionals in providing information, advice and support about feeding twins, triplets or more in the first year of life. Multiple birth babies are at much higher risk than single born children of being born preterm with a low birth weight so breastfeeding and good nutrition are very important."
April 2006