Latest news with #BBCMidlandsToday
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Coventry big baby trial gives pregnant women choice
Big baby trial gives pregnant women more 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.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Anger as swastika scratched on town war memorial
A town's war memorial has been defaced with a Nazi symbol, sparking anger among residents. This year marks the centenary of the Nicholson War Memorial in Leek and its desecration with a swastika has been widely condemned by people in the Staffordshire market town. The monument bears the names of more than 500 men and woman whose lives were sacrificed in conflict. "It's part of the town, and to desecrate it sacrilegiously in that way is outrageous," said Derek Hilyer, chair of the Leek War Memorial Committee. The vandalism came to light over the weekend, but it is unclear precisely when it happened. One woman speaking to BBC Midlands Today described the people responsible as "disgusting". She said: "They've got no respect for the fallen, no respect for the people that are serving our country now." Another resident described vandalism which had no respect for those who fought for their country as "extremely sad". "That monument's been there for a long, long time. I think it's awful," another woman added. The monument has since been cleaned and the incident is being investigated by police. The Staffordshire force said officers were keen to speak to anyone who might have CCTV footage of the vandalism taking place. The memorial was privately funded by Sir Arthur Nicholson, a prominent figure in the town. He said last century that he hoped it would be cherished and prized for all time. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Probe launched into Nazi graffiti attack Staffordshire Police
BBC News
01-04-2025
- BBC News
Anger as Swastika scratched on Leek's Nicholson War Memorial
A town's war memorial has been defaced with a Nazi symbol, sparking anger among year marks the centenary of the Nicholson War Memorial in Leek and its desecration with a swastika has been widely condemned by people in the Staffordshire market monument bears the names of more than 500 men and woman whose lives were sacrificed in conflict."It's part of the town, and to desecrate it sacrilegiously in that way is outrageous," said Derek Hilyer, chair of the Leek War Memorial Committee. The vandalism came to light over the weekend, but it is unclear precisely when it woman speaking to BBC Midlands Today described the people responsible as "disgusting".She said: "They've got no respect for the fallen, no respect for the people that are serving our country now." Another resident described vandalism which had no respect for those who fought for their country as "extremely sad"."That monument's been there for a long, long time. I think it's awful," another woman monument has since been cleaned and the incident is being investigated by Staffordshire force said officers were keen to speak to anyone who might have CCTV footage of the vandalism taking memorial was privately funded by Sir Arthur Nicholson, a prominent figure in the town. He said last century that he hoped it would be cherished and prized for all time. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
03-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Midlands Arts Centre marks Ramadan with community Iftar
People from across Birmingham who are celebrating Ramadan have been invited to gather to break their fast at a community multi-faith event will be held at the Midlands Art Centre (MAC) on Monday from 17:15 evening of sharing food and prayers will be free to invited guests and their families. The art centre has also commissioned local artist and printmaker Haseebah Ali to create a mural inside the building for visitors to enjoy throughout the month. Ramadan is the most important time in the Islamic calendar, when Muslims fast and refrain from eating or drinking between dawn and also believe it is a time for self-reflection and renewing their faith to Allah, with giving charity, also known as zakat and reciting special evening prayers known as Taraweeh, being an important aspect of the will be the second year that the MAC has hosted an Iftar to mark the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The community dinner will be broadcast live on BBC Midlands Today at 18:30 GMT. During the fast, two meals are eaten - one before the fast begins at dawn known as suhoor and another at sunset known as iftar where families sit together and break their fasts with dates and adults who are well and fit are obligated to fast during Ramadan, with young children, pregnant woman, elderly and sick people the holy month, mosques open their doors for iftars most days. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Weekly cricket club gave us new lease of life'
Members of an over-50's walking cricket club say the sport has given them a new lease of life. Madhu Patel, 72, attends two training sessions a week at Tipton Leisure Centre, in the West Midlands, and described them as a "massive opportunity" to get fit after two knee operations. Sport England has provided the club with equipment and will be funding other projects in the Black Country to encourage exercise - 34.8% of adults in the region are classed as inactive. The organisation has launched a £250m scheme to provide funding to 53 high-need areas in England to remove barriers to physical activity and to help people from lower socio-economic backgrounds as well as Black and Asian communities. Community cricket development officer Pravin Patel runs the 90-minute walking cricket sessions, which he started at the centre in 2023. He told BBC Midlands Today that he had encouraged people to sign up to be more active after the pandemic. "Cricket was the easiest sport to pick, and it's also one you can play with any ability," he said. "The majority [of members] are South Asian ladies, and in the past they've had this taboo of not playing sports, but when it came to cricket, I've got 45 ladies on the books." Among them is Mrs Patel, who said: "I've had two knee operations, and this has given me an opportunity to continue with my fitness, and now I'm thinking, I can carry on and sustain this. "We've all retired, so we have plenty of time on our hands to keep fit, to be motivated, and to do all the wonderful things with all these wonderful people." Members said they enjoyed the physical and social benefits of the training sessions. Uma Patel said the sessions helped her get out of the house, meet people do something she really enjoyed. Pravin Patel added: "I used to play cricket when I was at school so when I started here it brought me back memories." Sport England revealed that the Black Country was the most inactive partnership area in the country, with one of the factors being high levels of deprivation. It said this has had an impact on women, people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and Black and Asian communities, who were already the least likely to be physically active. Other areas in the West Midlands in the country-wide £250m funding scheme, which tailors activities to diverse communities, include: Dudley Sandwell Stoke-on-Trent Walsall Wolverhampton They were chosen for being in the top 10% for inactivity - which meant a high number of adults in the area did less than 30 minutes of physical activity in a week. The amount each region will receive will be decided through consultation in the coming months. So far the scheme has introduced free bikes in Birmingham, community activities for refugees in Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, and post-surgery rehab in South Tees. Sport England said the project was already making an impact, with inactivity in disabled people in Withernsea in East Yorkshire dropping by 29%, and children's activity in Doncaster in South Yorkshire up by 12%. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Plans to build fully accessible sports centre Leisure centre solar project faces funding cut-off Sport England
