Maternity & Midwifery Forum

Childbearing with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders

Debra
This week in October has been allocated International Bone and Joint Week, aiming to focus on the thousands of people who have Musculo-skeletal conditions. These affect more women than men and are more likely to lead to discrimination and health inequalities. Dr Sally Pezaro highlights work and resources on childbearing......
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Supporting families from diverse communities

Debra
There are many challenges midwives are currently facing in the workplace. Supporting women from diverse communities may be one. In this article Faiza Rehman, midwife and managing director of the Raham project, offers advice to midwives and health care professionals providing support. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Supporting families from diverse communities   My......
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The National Bereavement Care Pathway

Debra
In this article Marc Harder, Head of Bereavement Care & Hospital Liaison, Sands, explains the need for Baby Loss Awareness week. He highlights the inconsistency of support across services and draws attention to the National Bereavement Care pathway, to provide a framework and standardise bereavement care for all parents at......
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Black History Month – a personal view

Debra
October brings the start of a focus on the important contribution that Black people have made, and are making, across society. In this article midwife Jennifer Ekwebelem shares her views on the need for greater equality in maternity services. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ In 1948, the National Health Service (NHS) was born which......
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How Midwives Can Support Couples After Pregnancy Loss

Debra
There is currently minimal evidence around how couples’ sexual relationships are affected by pregnancy loss. Natalie Rosen Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor, Departments of Psychology and Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and David B. Allsop, completing his PhD in Experimental Psychology at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada, are undertaking a study to......
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Support for deaf and deafblind women in the maternity setting

Debra
This week is International week of Deaf people, a time to bring the needs front and centre. However, Lesley Weatherson, midwife, nurse and specialist BSL interpreter, Lipspeaker, and Deafblind Communicator/Guide, explains how maternity services need to improve support and make services accessible all the time. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ My personal view on......
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International midwifery: why does it matter?

Debra
The role of midwives is important throughout the world and there are increasingly significant opportunities for exchange of practice and resources. In the first of a series of articles, Nicola Lovett, Lead Midwife and Mollie Haskey, Better Births Transformation Midwife & Practice Development Midwife, Norfolk and Waveney Local Maternity and......
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Patient Safety Now: safety II and maternity

Debra
We all want to provide services and care that are safe and appropriate for the women and birthing people in our care. “Safety” has taken on a negative role in recent years. In this article Professional and Clinical Advisor in Patient Safety Suzette Woodward, explains the different approach “safety II”......
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Caring for pregnant women with long term health conditions: call for research support

Debra
Are you a UK midwife caring for pregnant women with two or more long term health conditions? A study is launched to investigate the experience of caring in complex circumstances. Stephanie Hanley, research Fellow at the University of Birmingham, and Sharon McCann, research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen, explain......
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Sepsis: what midwives and maternity professionals need to know

Debra
September is sepsis awareness month. Sepsis is a serious condition, and one that can develop suddenly. In this article Professor Helen Cheyne, RCM (Scotland) professor of midwifery, University of Stirling, tells her powerful personal story of the condition, and points to why recognition of sepsis by midwives and health professionals......
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