Helping prevent early birth with the 'Every Week Counts Collaborative'

Two Fiona Stanley Hospital staff stand with a group of maternity health professionals at the Every Week Counts National Preterm Prevention Birth Collaborative FSH staff Midwifery Manager, Sara Veness and A/Coordinator of Nursing and Midwifery, Leanne Graham at the ‘Every Week Counts Preterm Birth Prevention Collaborative” (Photo courtesy Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance).
17/06/2025

Hoping to reduce the prevalence of early term births and preterm births at Fiona Stanley Hospital, the Maternity department is participating in the Every Week Counts National Preterm Prevention Birth Collaborative (external site) to implement strategies in phase 2 of this Commonwealth-funded national health initiative.

FSH clinicians Midwifery Manager, Sara Veness and A/Coordinator of Nursing and Midwifery, Leanne Graham recently attended a 2-day Collaborative Learning Session alongside over 140 nationwide maternity clinicians in Brisbane where they learnt about the latest phase of the initiative from Australian obstetric and midwifery leaders.

FSH prepared a story board for the conference which reflected on current data and data from the first phase of the collaborative and identified opportunities for FSH to focus on in phase two of the Every Week Counts Collaborative.

“FSH implemented the first phase preterm birth prevention strategies, involving measuring the cervical length in all mid-pregnancy morphology ultrasound scans, and prescribing vaginal progesterone for those with shortened cervixes’ during pregnancy,” Leanne said.

“We also followed the strategy that recommended pregnancy should continue to 39 weeks unless there is a medical or obstetric justification.

“Further, we also introduced carbon monoxide screening for all women and nicotine replacement therapy can be initiated by midwives at maternal request. This aligns with the strategy which encourages cessation of smoking for pregnant women.”

For phase two of the national program, FSH have selected 2 pillars to focus on which are lowering the rate of early term births and partnering with our First Nations communities to provide culturally safe preterm birth prevention.

Six female Fiona Stanley Hospital maternity health professionals stand beside a mannuequin of a baby laying in a crib.

“FSH are committed to implementing these strategies to reduce the incidence and impact of premature birth for families within SMHS,” Leanne said.

In March 2025, the Australian Government announced it had awarded $5.3 million in funding to the Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance (the Alliance) and Women’s Healthcare Australasia to expand Australia’s world-first national program to safely reduce rates of preterm and early term birth.

The Alliance has been working to reduce the rates of premature birth since it began in 2018, with 1 in every 12 pregnancies (double for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies) in Australia ending too early, causing potentially serious medical complications, lifelong disability, and remaining the leading cause of death in children up to 5 years of age. For more information visit the Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance (external site).

Photo captions

From left to right, Fiona Stanley Hospital Preterm birth team members Dr Sarah Rylance, Joanna Camilleri Nurse Director and Phoebe Backhouse, Clinical Midwifery Specialist stand together beside maternity equipment

  • Second photo: Fiona Stanley Hospital Maternity team
  • Third photo: Left to right, Dr Sarah Rylance, Nurse Director Joanna Camilleri and Clinical Midwifery Specialist Phoebe Backhouse, who are part of the team working to prevent preterm birth at FSH.

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Last Updated: 17/06/2025