Lay summary
I am a Paediatric basic trainee, passionate about a culturally safe perinatal system. In Aotearoa, pēpi (Māori babies) are more likely to die or experience poor outcomes in the perinatal system. While there is a growing body of research focussed on understanding the drivers of pre-term, perinatal inequities, the data on term pēpi remains largely unexplored, rendering their stories silent. Moreover, there is scant research that focuses on whānau narratives of pēpi loss. The current mortality data collection and reporting system does not fully realise Māori aspirations, nor situate pēpi as taonga. This mixed-methods Kaupapa Māori project aims to bridge these knowledge gaps by exploring narratives of whānau who have lost a pēpi at term to inform a kaupapa Māori pēpi outcome data framework. This project has the potential to inform service design and delivery including supporting a perinatal and neonatal loss pathway.