Welcome to the first edition of the WA Preterm Birth Prevention Initiative (The Whole Nine Months) E-newsletter. Our E-news will keep you informed of the Initiative’s activities and progress toward achieving our goal of significantly reducing the rate of preterm birth in WA.

With a team of health professionals, I have been travelling around the State talking to our health profession colleagues about the new guidelines contained within the Initiative to ensure that everyone has the information that will optimise the chance that pregnancies can go #thewholeninemonths. Our upcoming Outreach schedule can be viewed below or you can follow the Initiative on Twitter @wirfwa or Facebook @The Whole Nine Months.

I would like to thank you for attending the workshops and taking on board the new strategies within this world-first Initiative. It is going to take all of us working together to ensure the recommendations of this Initiative translate into more babies being born at term, and fewer babies lost to preterm birth or suffering life-long disabilities.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition,

Professor John Newnham AM and the WA Preterm Birth Prevention Initiative Outeach Team  Photo L-R - Dr Suzanne Meharry, Prof John Newnham, Michelle Pedretti, Cate Belcher, Suzie Allen & Theresa Warner.

Funding for Clinic

On 23rd June 2015, the State Government announced funding of $506,663 to extend the WA Preterm Birth Prevention Clinic trial by 12 months. The Clinic began operating on a trial basis in November 2014 and has already showed initial signs of success.  To read more about the funding announcement, click here.

Photo L-R - Prof John Newnham, Hon Donna Faragher, A/Prof Craig Pennell, Minister for Health The Hon Dr Kim Hames MLA

Outreach for Medical Professionals

The Initiative’s Outreach team - Obstetrician Dr Suzanne Meharry, Sonographer Michelle Pedretti, Midwife Cate Belcher, Midwife Suzie Allen and Professor John Newnham, has already travelled to many medical sites in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Perth metro area informing health care professionals of the new clinical guidelines contained within the Initiative.

Upcoming Outreach Schedule:

• 26/08/15 - Kalgoorlie
• 31/08/15 - Bunbury
• 02/09/15 - Busselton
• Date TBC - Geraldton
• Date TBC - Albany

For an update on the new clinical guidelines, please see the Health Professional's Brochure or click here.

Stars Event 9th & 10th Sept 2015

Book Now to Secure Your Place!

Each year the Women and Infants Research Foundation hosts the Stars Events in Perth. These events are aimed at medical professionals and showcase the most recent research findings in the fields of newborn medicine, women’s health and reproduction.

This year's Stars topic is 'Translating research outcomes into clinical practice'. This event will focus on several areas in which there have been significant research advances now leading to improved clinical care. Topics will include exercise in pregnancy, novel strategies to prevent preterm birth and medical management of ectopic pregnancy.

Be quick to register to secure your place. For bookings and programs please see the Stars Event 2015 page.

Media - The Whole Nine Months

Professor John Newnham recently spoke to Penny Johnston from ABC Radio Melbourne's Babytalk about the WA Preterm Birth Prevention Initiative.

To listen to the interview click here.