The Australian College of Nursing has labelled stillbirth a "neglected epidemic" as families plead for greater research, funding and awareness into a tragedy that affects six mothers a day.
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Australia records about 2200 stillbirths a year - a rate 30 per cent higher than that in other developed countries. Up to 80 babies are stillborn each year in Canberra alone.
A senate inquiry examining the future of stillbirth education and research in Australia, triggered by Labor Senator Kristina Kenneally, who lost her daughter Caroline to stillbirth in 1999, had on Friday attracted 21 submissions.
Some parents wrote they had no answers as to why their baby had died and all expressed disbelief that Australia's stillbirth rates had barely improved in 20 years. They had not been warned of the risks of stillbirths until they experienced the tragedy themselves, they said.
One mum wrote that everything seemed normal until her 36-week scan, when she was told her stomach was a bit smaller than expected but that her baby appeared to be moving fine.
Three days later she started vomiting and went to hospital. Her daughter had died.
"I gave birth naturally at midday on the Sunday to my stillborn daughter, Lacy," the woman said.
"I then had to organise a funeral."
Another mother was told at her 20-week scan that her son was "a little on the small side" but was given the green light to book a follow-up appointment after an overseas holiday.
"We came back from holidays then early the next morning went along for another scan," she wrote.
"The doctor took one look at the screen then turned to us and told us that she was sorry, our baby had no heartbeat.
"... not in our wildest dreams had we anticipated coming back from holidays to meet with funeral directors to discuss what would happen to our most precious and innocent child after he was born."
The Royal College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians noted perinatal deaths outnumbered adult deaths from breast cancer and represented twice the number of deaths from road trauma.
"Yet substantial public health and awareness campaigns surround breast cancer and road
accidents," the college wrote.
"RANZCOG strongly supports a substantial effort to deal with these tragic losses."
During the inquiry the Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education will look at stillbirth data throughout Australia, the current research funding into stillbirth and communication of stillbirth research for Australian families.
Committee chairwoman and Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy said a technical issue may have affected some submissions and encouraged people to check the committee's website to ensure theirs had been received.
“Families are generously sharing their personal experiences of stillbirth," Senator McCarthy said.
"While the submissions at this stage are not high in number they highlight common experiences we hear anecdotally from families who have experienced a stillbirth."
She added the committee was working on a timeline for hearings in which stakeholders and individuals could give evidence on stillbirth research and education.
Submissions close June 29. The committee will report its findings next year.
