19.11 Improving the service..improving outcomes ..

One of the key outcomes that we as midwives within the maternity care team need to address is that of pre-term labour and birth – when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, working towards improving perinatal outcomes.We are joined this week by Dede Thorpe, Preterm Specialist Midwife at East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, who will be talking about the experience of women and families who have given birth early, and highlight the key risk factors, highlighting how to signpost women and families to good pre-terms services. Dede will also discuss how the midwife can best identify the common risk factors and ensure that care is tailored to the needs of that woman and her baby, and also deal with and bridge gaps in care for this cohort of women.Hosted by:Sue MacdoanldContributions from:Dede Thorpe Preterm Birth Specialist Midwife East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust