Grampians Health joins international trial

GRAMPIANS Health has joined an international trial which is investigating if giving corticosteroid injections to a mother before a planned caesarean, reduces the risk of breathing problems in newborns.

The trial is being conducted by Auckland University, the Liggins Institute and the University of Melbourne.

An obstetrics and gynaecology research team was established at Grampians Health last year and this study is their first clinical trial.

“Starting this team in partnership with the clinical trials unit means we get experienced research staff working alongside clinical midwives and obstetricians,” said Dr Natasha Frawley, head of obstetrics and gynaecology.

“This ultimately helps us have regional outcomes being studied in important international trials, so we can improve outcomes for mothers and babies in Ballarat and across the Grampians region.”

Currently more than 50,000 babies are born via planned caesarean in Australia and New Zealand each year, and these rates are rising.

“We know that planned caesareans can be risky for babies,” said registered midwife and clinical trials coordinator Taegen Burnside.

“Some may need to be admitted to a neonatal unit for breathing support, which means mothers are separated from their baby after birth, which is not ideal for mother or baby.”

Babies born before labour has started are more likely to experience short term breathing problems.

“This trial is specifically looking at women who are birthing by caesarean section without labour, between 35 and 39+6 weeks gestation, which is late preterm and term babies,” said Ms Burnside.

“We want to be able to do everything we can to support both mother and child and give them the best outcomes before, during and after birth.”