The death of an infant is a profound, emotionally complex time in a new mother’s life. She grieves for the baby she has lost, the life she imagined and her role as a mother. Compounding this emotional distress is the physical pain associated with engorgement and milk secretion. This article discusses the physiology of lactation and practical advice to give to bereaved mothers to help them through this time. Ways to suppress lactation are discussed as well as the concept that continuation may be the right pathway for some mothers.

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Congenital enterovirus infection is caused by a group of single stranded RNA viruses transmitted vertically from an infectious mother; symptoms can begin in utero or in the immediate neonatal period. Symptoms can be mild but when occurring in the first two weeks of life, can be more severe and life threatening. We present a case series of five neonates with congenital enterovirus infection. Three of the infants developed severe infection requiring intensive care, one of whom died of multi-organ failure. A high index of suspicion is required as early treatment may be lifesaving.

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This study examined the use of ultrasound for adjusting umbilical central lines in the neonatal intensive care unit at Royal Oldham Hospital. The authors compared ultrasound to traditional X-ray procedures and found that ultrasound-guided placement of the umbilical catheter is a quick, safe and effective method that saves considerable time in clinical and nursing management, especially in extremely premature babies.

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The fetal medicine, antenatal medicine, neonatal and surgical teams have come together at St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, to offer a holistic, family-orientated clinic for parents-to-be of in utero babies who are known to have surgical problems. These families face high levels of stress and anxiety, and have questions about their unborn child that need answering. This multidisciplinary clinic has shown clear benefits in maximising parental understanding, empowering parents through knowledge sharing, and preparing the future relationship between parents and medical teams for the long-term care of the baby.

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