​I note with a great deal of delight the recent launch of a campaign by Tommys called #Always Ask.
I particularly like Tommy’s approach, as this campaign is about empowering a woman to act on her unborn baby’s behalf. I firmly believe that this is a very necessary and logical next step in dropping stillbirth rates. In fact, I believe it’s crucially important to empower women to speak up because, more often than any of us care to think, maternity care providers actually don’t do, or say the right thing when women express concerns. I really like Tommys approach at saying exactly what the woman needs to ask, exactly what to say, including notes for her to keep with 10 easy to follow steps:

​This, along with a short video full of very helpful and practical tips for speaking up in pregnancy, should be very helpful in empowering women to act on their baby’s behalf.
The campaign includes a symptom checker for common problems in pregnancy that the mother can help identify. It also fits really neatly into the recent #movements matter campaign also by Tommy’s. Tommy’s are to be congratulated for leading the world in raising awareness of risk factors for stillbirth and ways the mother can act to protect her baby. I can only hope that other high income countries will follow their lead… sooner rather than later!