Mum & Baby app includes SCAD information

Beat SCAD helps create information for app

The Mum & Baby app, created by NHS Central London, now includes information about SCAD and heart health.

Back in January, when Trustees Sarah Coombes and Karen Rockell attended the London Maternity and Midwifery Festival, they were approached by Fiona Ghalustians, Senior Project Manager, Maternity Transformation Programme, North West London Collaboration of CCGs, who was updating content in the Mum & Baby app.

She asked if we could provide some information about heart health and pregnancy, including SCAD, for the app, which is produced by the NHS Central London (Westminster) CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group). The app is for women who are pregnant or have given birth and helps them navigate their maternity care choices in England. Downloads for previous versions have topped 10,000.

The most recent MBRRACE report, published in December 2019 and covering 2015-17, found that while giving birth in the UK is very safe, heart disease remains the leading cause of death, accounting for 48 (23%) of the 209 deaths reported during pregnancy and up to six weeks after giving birth out of the 2.28 million women who gave birth during this time period.

The report noted that heart disease can occur for the first time in pregnancy, so including information about heart health in this app was very timely.

Indigestion symptoms that don’t respond to indigestion remedies, chest pain, severe breathlessness or a persistently racing heart are all red flags that should be investigated.

We were very pleased to be able to provide content for both a general Heart Health section and separate sections about SCAD in pregnancy or the post-partum period.

The app can be downloaded from the iTunes or Google Play stores.

Beat SCAD was delighted to have been involved in this project, in the same year that detailed information about SCAD was included for the very first time in The Myles Textbook for Midwives 17th Edition. Both projects have raised awareness of SCAD among midwives and the general public.

Mum & Baby app includes SCAD information