Coventry big baby trial gives pregnant women choice
10 minutes ago
Share
Save
Shannen Headley
BBC News, West Midlands
Amy Cole
BBC Midlands Today
Share
Save
BBC
Eve Morgan took part in the 'Big Baby' trial in 2018, giving birth to her son 10 days early
Women pregnant with larger babies have been given the option to choose how and when to give birth in a bid to lessen the risk of injury to the child.
The "big baby" trial aimed to find out if starting labour earlier than 38 weeks made it less likely for infants who appeared large in the womb to be born with shoulder dystocia, where the shoulder becomes stuck during delivery.
Study findings from between 2018 and 2022 showed giving birth a week to 10 days earlier reduced the risk, researchers said.
It is hoped the data from the £2.5m Coventry-based trial will give doctors and midwives more confidence in facilitating natural births.
Coventry nurse Eve Morgan took part in the study 2018 after monitoring found her baby could reach 9lb (4kg).
Ms Morgan, who developed gestational diabetes when she was pregnant, had a cervical sweep to help bring on her choice of a natural labour.
As a result, she safely delivered her 7lbs 8oz boy (3.4kg) 10 days early.
"They said [the] baby grows so much in the last kind of week or so," she said. "I'm quite petite myself. They said he would have been big for me."
The trial was led by Siobhan Quenby, a professor of obstetrics at the University of Warwick and consultant at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, in partnership with the Perinatal Institute, Birmingham.
Results were gathered from 2,893 women in 106 hospitals in the UK, who consented to be randomly allocated to induction or standard delivery.
What is shoulder dystocia?
Shoulder dystocia occurs in 1 in 150 vaginal deliveries, delaying birth and leading to possible complications, including a stretching in the nerves of the infant's neck.
The NHS says the condition occurs more often in bigger babies but there is uncertainty over how often.
It is estimated it could affect 1 in 25 women with a big baby who have a vaginal delivery.
Large babies are defined as those who weigh more than 90% of other babies the same age, the NHS said.
Professor Siobhan Quenby said the trial gave women choices over how and when to have larger babies
Prof Quenby said the trial findings empowered women to decide "how and when they want to deliver their baby".
Trial data crucially revealed babies did not suffer more harm if they were delivered later. It also showed earlier delivery reduced the need for emergency Caesarean section and did not increase the risk of tearing.
"Whether you're induced at 38 weeks or whether you choose to wait for a natural labour, in both groups the baby's outcomes were the same," Prof Quenby said.
"Both groups had a risk of shoulder dystocia, it was actually slightly higher if you waited for labour naturally - but babies didn't do any worse if you wait for labour naturally."
She added all the babies were born in an NHS hospital, where staff were trained on delivering natural births.
Komal Mehmood, who is 38-weeks pregnant with a baby that appears larger in the womb, said data from the trial offered her reassurance
Komal Mehmood, from Coventry, is 38-weeks pregnant with her second child, which is measuring as large.
She said she found the results of the trial helpful when deciding her birth plan.
"I mean it's a natural process at the end of the day," she said. "I understand the baby's big, but I'm confident that waiting for a normal birth shouldn't be a problem."
Asked if the data had offered her reassurance she said: "Definitely it does."
The trial was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the results published in the medical journal, The Lancet.
Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
DIY cervical cancer tests most likely to be used if offered by GPs
From January next year, at-home kits will be offered to women who have rarely or have never attended their cervical screening. The tests, which can be performed at home, look for the human papillomavirus (HPV) – the virus which is linked to the majority of cases of cervical cancer. A new study examined the most effective ways women can be approached about performing the tests themselves at home. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and King's College London performed a study across 13 GP surgeries in west London. They found that under-screened women were more likely to take up the offer of a self-sample test if they were 'opportunistically' approached when they were visiting a GP for another reason. Fewer tests were returned when under-screened women were sent a test in the post, or were sent a letter inviting them to get a self-sampling kit. Women who haven't come forward for cervical screening will be offered self-sampling kits. As part of the 10 Year Health Plan, we're tackling the barriers that keep some women away from potentially lifesaving screenings. Learn more: — Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) June 24, 2025 Of 449 women opportunistically offered a self-sample kit, 333 (74%) accepted the offer and 234 (52%) returned a sample within six months. Meanwhile, 198 of the 1,616 women sent a kit in the post (12%) and 76 of the 1,587 women sent a letter inviting them to order a kit (5%) returned a self-sample within six months. 'We showed that the uptake of self-sampling was by far the highest among women who were opportunistically offered kits in primary care,' the researchers wrote in the journal eClinicalMedicine. But the researchers said that more work was needed to ensure women who took up the offer returned their sample. 'Substantial numbers accepted (an opportunistic offer) or ordered (sent a letter) a kit but did not return a sample and over a quarter of those whose self-sample was HPV positive did not follow through with a clinician sample,' the authors added. They suggested that text or phone reminders 'could be valuable'. Senior researcher, Professor Peter Sasieni from Queen Mary University of London, said: 'Our study showed that offering a self-sample kit in person was the most effective method of encouraging women to complete their cervical cancer screening tests. But he said that a 'combination of approaches may be best for enabling more women to participate in cervical screening'. The NHS offers cervical screening tests – previously known as smear tests – to all women aged 25-64 every three years. But many people do not take up the offer, with a number citing a lack of time, discomfort or embarrassment. Data published by the NHS last November showed five million women are not up to date with routine check-ups.
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
DIY cervical cancer tests most likely to be used if offered by GPs
From January next year, at-home kits will be offered to women who have rarely or have never attended their cervical screening. The tests, which can be performed at home, look for the human papillomavirus (HPV) – the virus which is linked to the majority of cases of cervical cancer. A new study examined the most effective ways women can be approached about performing the tests themselves at home. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and King's College London performed a study across 13 GP surgeries in west London. They found that under-screened women were more likely to take up the offer of a self-sample test if they were 'opportunistically' approached when they were visiting a GP for another reason. Fewer tests were returned when under-screened women were sent a test in the post, or were sent a letter inviting them to get a self-sampling kit. Women who haven't come forward for cervical screening will be offered self-sampling kits. As part of the 10 Year Health Plan, we're tackling the barriers that keep some women away from potentially lifesaving screenings. Learn more: — Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) June 24, 2025 Of 449 women opportunistically offered a self-sample kit, 333 (74%) accepted the offer and 234 (52%) returned a sample within six months. Meanwhile, 198 of the 1,616 women sent a kit in the post (12%) and 76 of the 1,587 women sent a letter inviting them to order a kit (5%) returned a self-sample within six months. 'We showed that the uptake of self-sampling was by far the highest among women who were opportunistically offered kits in primary care,' the researchers wrote in the journal eClinicalMedicine. But the researchers said that more work was needed to ensure women who took up the offer returned their sample. 'Substantial numbers accepted (an opportunistic offer) or ordered (sent a letter) a kit but did not return a sample and over a quarter of those whose self-sample was HPV positive did not follow through with a clinician sample,' the authors added. They suggested that text or phone reminders 'could be valuable'. Senior researcher, Professor Peter Sasieni from Queen Mary University of London, said: 'Our study showed that offering a self-sample kit in person was the most effective method of encouraging women to complete their cervical cancer screening tests. But he said that a 'combination of approaches may be best for enabling more women to participate in cervical screening'. The NHS offers cervical screening tests – previously known as smear tests – to all women aged 25-64 every three years. But many people do not take up the offer, with a number citing a lack of time, discomfort or embarrassment. Data published by the NHS last November showed five million women are not up to date with routine check-ups.
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
DIY cervical cancer tests most likely to be used if offered by GPs
From January next year, at-home kits will be offered to women who have rarely or have never attended their cervical screening. The tests, which can be performed at home, look for the human papillomavirus (HPV) – the virus which is linked to the majority of cases of cervical cancer. A new study examined the most effective ways women can be approached about performing the tests themselves at home. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and King's College London performed a study across 13 GP surgeries in west London. They found that under-screened women were more likely to take up the offer of a self-sample test if they were 'opportunistically' approached when they were visiting a GP for another reason. Fewer tests were returned when under-screened women were sent a test in the post, or were sent a letter inviting them to get a self-sampling kit. Women who haven't come forward for cervical screening will be offered self-sampling kits. As part of the 10 Year Health Plan, we're tackling the barriers that keep some women away from potentially lifesaving screenings. Learn more: — Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) June 24, 2025 Of 449 women opportunistically offered a self-sample kit, 333 (74%) accepted the offer and 234 (52%) returned a sample within six months. Meanwhile, 198 of the 1,616 women sent a kit in the post (12%) and 76 of the 1,587 women sent a letter inviting them to order a kit (5%) returned a self-sample within six months. 'We showed that the uptake of self-sampling was by far the highest among women who were opportunistically offered kits in primary care,' the researchers wrote in the journal eClinicalMedicine. But the researchers said that more work was needed to ensure women who took up the offer returned their sample. 'Substantial numbers accepted (an opportunistic offer) or ordered (sent a letter) a kit but did not return a sample and over a quarter of those whose self-sample was HPV positive did not follow through with a clinician sample,' the authors added. They suggested that text or phone reminders 'could be valuable'. Senior researcher, Professor Peter Sasieni from Queen Mary University of London, said: 'Our study showed that offering a self-sample kit in person was the most effective method of encouraging women to complete their cervical cancer screening tests. But he said that a 'combination of approaches may be best for enabling more women to participate in cervical screening'. The NHS offers cervical screening tests – previously known as smear tests – to all women aged 25-64 every three years. But many people do not take up the offer, with a number citing a lack of time, discomfort or embarrassment. Data published by the NHS last November showed five million women are not up to date with routine check-ups.
