Maternity & Midwifery Forum

Midwifery: a global update, what this means for normal labour and birth

Paul
Fran McConville, Midwifery Advisor at the World Health Organisation gives a presentation discussing “Midwifery: a global update, what this means for normal labour and birth” at the 14th International Normal Labour and Birth Research Conference. The full box set of videos from this conference are available to view here....

Getting it right the first time – Holding on to labour

Paul
Many pregnant women – especially those who have given birth before – have an innate sense of when they’ve gone into labour ‘for real’.  However, if they show up to the labour ward of their local or chosen hospital too soon, they run the risk of being sent home where......

Black Breastfeeding Week Celebration: Breaking Barriers & Uplifting Education

Paul
1-2-1 Doula & Breastfeeding Support Ltd will be celebrating Black Breastfeeding Week 2019 by hosting their 2nd public event in the UK. This is going to be a fun, interactive, educational and informative event. Everyone is welcome! There will be: Special Guest Speakers Q&A Sessions Creative Workshops Comedy / Poetry......

Coping with a crying baby – Warrington & Halton Hospitals launches programme aimed at helping parents and carers across Cheshire

Paul
“Babies Cry, You Can Cope – never, ever shake or hurt a baby” is the message from ‘ICON’ – a national programme of interventions and awareness that aims to help parents and carers to cope with a crying baby.  Yesterday, midwives, health visitors, GPs and other professionals who work with families,......

New report spotlights how housing problems jeopardise women’s rights to safe maternity care

Paul
A report published recently by the charities Birth Companions and Birthrights highlights the need for a more proactive, integrated approach to addressing the maternity care needs of women experiencing multiple disadvantages during pregnancy and early motherhood. Through in-depth interviews with women and professionals, the research found that, in almost every......

“Behaviour is an invisible cloak that you think nobody can see… Embroider your cloak with love, kindness, goodwill, integrity, truth and honour”

Paul
England’s first Chief Midwifery Officer was appointed earlier this year. The appointment marked a shift in maternity and midwifery care in the NHS both towards midwife-led care for women and towards midwives becoming an ever-more self-governing group.   In this presentation, Jennifer ‘Jenny the Midwife’ Clarke explains that a true......

More Than Morning Sickness: Understanding Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Paul
When we think of pregnancy we imagine rounded bellies nurturing the baby within, expectant mothers adorned in flowing dresses with cascading hair and glowing skin. For those people who want to have children pregnancy is idealised and we anticipate nine months of radiance and happiness shared with family and friends......

“We felt so in awe of [our midwife]… We felt that she was so special.”

Paul
We’ve all heard of ‘Continuity of Carer’ in midwifery – it is a key component of the NHS’ move towards Better Births. Not so long ago, the (private) continuity of care service Neighbourhood Midwives in Walthamstow made the news when it closed unexpectedly, to the consternation of many expectant parents. ......