A national pregnancy charity is aiming to reduce baby loss with the launch of a simple antenatal initiative. MAMA Academy has developed their Wellbeing Wallet as a means of relaying key health messages for expectant mums to have to hand at all times. The wallets are a robust plastic zip-lock pouch in which pregnant women can protect their antenatal notes. They are colourful and printed with vital information such as monitoring babies movements so that this becomes second nature to the woman.
 
MAMA Academy founder Heidi Eldridge set up the charity 2 years ago after her son, Aidan, was stillborn in 2009. She won an Inspiration Award this month and has just been shortlisted for the Tesco Mum of the Year Awards. Heidi said:  “Mums love our Wellbeing Wallets as they serve a purpose and educate them at the same time. The wallets remind mums of vital information right through their pregnancy and help them retain the important bits”. 
 
The launch is being supported by TV’s Dr Ranj Singh, who hosts CBeebies show ‘Get Well Soon’ and regularly appears on ITV’s ‘This Morning’. Dr Ranj said:  “Whilst acting as a helpful reminder for healthy pregnancy guidance, the wallets also 
give midwives a way to initiate conversations with women about some potentially difficult topics, aiding communication and reinforcing important advice. They are a must-have for every mum-to-be”. 
 
The charity funds the wallets for a few trusts in the South East and NHS England are encouraging all trusts to purchase them. Mums also have the opportunity to buy one from the MAMA Academy website for just £2 if their local trust does not yet offer them. MAMA Academy hopes to provide all trusts with wallets by the end of 2015. The initiative has already impressed several high profile figures in maternity care, including respected Midwife Consultant Sheena Byrom OBE, who said:  “Pregnant women receive an abundance of leaflets during the antenatal period, which can be overwhelming and key messages can be overlooked. As most women keep their antenatal handheld notes in a bag to keep them safe and clean, the wallet is an ideal way of maximising the opportunity for vital snippets of information to be read. The wallet’s dual purpose is invaluable – and it’s designed by a mum for mums!”The incentive for trusts is that they act as part of their stillbirth strategy.
 
The UK has one of the highest stillbirth rates in the developed world. The Wellbeing Wallets offer a cost effective way to give more babies the best chance of arriving safely. 
 
To order your Wellbeing Wallet, click here.

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