Maternity & Midwifery Forum

Charging for NHS maternity care – new research

Debra
In the UK there have been increasing incidents of news reports talking about cases where Trusts have charged migrant women large amounts of money for their maternity care. In this article Maternity Action discusses their report into compliance of NHS Trusts to the law on charging women. Maternity Action’s new......

Moving towards green pain relief

Debra
Concerns about climate change and the short and long term effects on our world remain a hot topic in the news. In the article below, midwifery student Nicole Rajan-Brown, points out news on a new form of “green gas and air” that is being used in a unit in Newcastle,......

A student midwife’s reflection of 2020/21

Debra
Over the past year in the UK students in Universities (AEI) have been affected by the experience of COVID-19 lockdown. In the Maternity and Midwifery forum we have recorded a number of talks on the Midwifery Hour or at Festivals discussing the difficulties that student midwives, and educators, have been......

Prioritising safety in a post-Covid world

Debra
In this talk Hayley Parkhill, Midwife with Private Midwives, shares her perspective on caring during the pandemic considering the research published throughout the last year. She discusses using BPR Medical’s gas therapy products in her practice to support the comfort of women and new born babies in her care. Watch......

The language of the new Future Midwife Standards

Debra
Dr Jacqui Williams and Verena Wallace, senior midwifery advisers at the NMC, discuss the language of the new Future Midwife standards. The new future midwife standards are not so new, they have been out for a few years, but with the pandemic they may sound new to many. Follow this......

New research unearths midwives’ problematic substance use for the first time

Debra
In recent years the pressure midwives are under is being documented across the world. Dr Sally Pezaro and Dr Karen Maher, from Coventry university, have taken this further with research investigation, and now would like your help.   Problematic substance use: an assessment of workplace implications in midwifery S Pezaro, K......

Reflecting on the previous year in Maternity and Midwifery services

Debra
“It’s been a tough, tough year for everybody: and you have made significant and rapid changes to the way you work during the pandemic. It has been relentless and tiring for you.  However you have made a huge contribution to keeping our maternity services safe and keeping our mothers, babies......

Why do 50% of pregnant mothers lapse from their iron supplements treatment?

Debra
During pregnancy, there is an increased need for iron as blood volume increases by 40-50%. During the second and third trimesters, dietary iron requirements can increase to as much as 30mg per day. High dose oral iron is the most recommended form of iron for pregnant women, however 8/10 suffer from the side effects of oral iron. This leads......

Spread a little nappiness

Debra
In the news discussion continues to take place on climate change and how we can avoid the use of single use plastics. Disposable nappies have come into the spotlight. Ashley Artusa-Barrell, founder of My Son’s Planet, explores the issues.   Disposable nappies are big business. The disposable nappy industry is......

Abortion laws and the United States: why it matters

Debra
The circumstances around abortion in the United States has hit the news this month as September 1st saw the introduction of a new law in Texas state. The law outlaws abortions for anyone with a fetus over 6 weeks gestation where cardiac activity of the fetus has been detected, unless......