Tamba welcomes updated NICE guidance on safer multiple births

Tamba, the twins and multiple births association, welcomes the publication by NICE of updated guidelines for multiple birth pregnancies. Tamba contributed to the process and welcomes the updated version, which the charity believes will result in better birth experiences for mothers, and safer outcomes for babies.

Through its pioneering Maternity Engagement Project, Tamba will seek to ensure staff at units across England are supported in adopting the updated guidelines by providing direct support and advice.

Recent research by the charity revealed that only 30% of maternity units were following the NICE guidelines on multiple births.

A key addition to the guidelines is a new section on intrapartum care and a section on birth plans and timing of birth – an area of concern raised in the charity's recent BeCOME survey - full results of which will be published in February next year.

There is also a new section on preventing preterm births, which doesn't recommend any particular intervention but will be reviewed as new evidence relating to progesterone becomes available.

While funding of the project has ended, Tamba is now embarking on a new model to continue its pioneering work with units.

The full report on the project can be viewed here.