With approximately 665,000 infants born every year in England and a heartbreaking 3,000 stillbirths, England's rate is currently more than double that of nations with the lowest figures.
In an effort to tackle the rate of stillbirths in the UK and ultimately halve the number by the year 2030, the NHS will be rolling out new recommendations aimed at doctors, midwives and parents.
Providing those in the field with a new 'care bundle', parents will, according to Sky News, be given access to excellent maternity services which aims to provide the best standard of care possible.
Reports indicate that this 'bundle' will focus on improving foetal monitoring during labour, raise awareness of how to monitor movement, and ultimately stress the dangers of smoking during pregnancy.
Speaking out about the announcement, Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, began by saying: "NHS maternity care is now the safest it's ever been, and most mums say they're cared for brilliantly."
Mr. Stevens was, however, keen to acknowledge that considerable work needs to be done in spite of positive feedback.
But we could cut stillbirths if all pregnant mums were encouraged to quit smoking, if proper monitoring takes place during pregnancy, and if maternity providers listen carefully when pregnant women report worries about their baby's movements."
While the announcement has been met with positivity, many believe the NHS still aren't doing enough to prevent the heartache endured by thousands of families on an annual basis, with Elizabeth Hutton, the chief executive of Kicks Count, calling for further research.
Commenting on the new guidelines, she said: "We could be getting the message out even further. We could do more monitoring of mums during pregnancy, there's all sorts of research that can be done."
