The summer break is over in the UK, which means the Midwifery Hour is back! Coming into the 14th Series, Sue Macdonald, midwife, educator and curator of the Maternity and Midwifery Festivals, and the Midwifery Hour, introduces the themes coming up in the weeks ahead.
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Well, the summer is almost over, though there is still some sunshine, the days are getting that bit shorter, the crops – (my runner and French beans) are slowing right down, and Halloween and Christmas decorations are appearing in the shops… I even saw mince pies on sale this weekend!
So onto Series 14 of the Maternity and Midwifery Hour – that hour on a Wednesday when we talk midwifery, midwives and issues that impact on mothers, babies and families. It is now over four years since we started this hour – in response to the Covid-19 lockdown, and the thirst that midwives and student midwives had for information, professional development and contact with each other when ‘social distancing’ made this so difficult.
We start this series with a new government in the UK – a new Health Minister and though, there does not seem much money…, there is hope and optimism in the air – which is lovely.
Work on each series of the Maternity and Midwifery Hour starts well ahead each season, aiming to link into awareness weeks and months, and also to include a good mixture of midwifery topics for our participants – in the UK and beyond. This is balanced with ways in which we can ensure that there is the ability to bring in ‘hot topics’ as they emerge. This season we have some lovely hours planned, starting with an hour on the 18th September bringing highlights from the Wales and South West Festival to everyone. We are including an hour focusing on breastfeeding; one on continuity of care and implementation informed and led by user group colleagues, and then into infant loss and bereavement. That’s just the first four weeks!
We are discussing some issues that are uncomfortable and difficult such as bereavement, issues around weight control and childbearing; bullying within midwifery and also domestic abuse. This is always with the objective of providing information, a strong evidence base, and tools and solutions that we as practitioners can use to improve our care and therefore reduce inequality, morbidity and mortality amongst the women and families we serve. Regular participants will know that there are accompanying resources – reading and web-links for each session, and we hope that these continue to be useful to you.
And our speakers, and guest chairs – a huge thank you to all – for the generosity both of preparing and coming along to the Maternity and Midwifery Hour, in your own time, and being so enthusiastic and committed in sharing your expertise. The Forum are so pleased to have the partnership with the Practising Midwife, and many of you will have enjoyed Anna and Sheena Byrom’s slots as presenters and chairs. There is also an Advisory Group and the MMF team who work to ensure that information is shared about the Hour, and that all runs smoothly on the day! And of course, because everything the Forum do is recorded, thanks and praise need to go to our producers/online editors, in ensuring that all is recorded, edited and then swiftly available, on the variety of available platforms.
One particular delight to me, is when midwifery and associated colleagues contact the team with an idea or topic that they either want to share, or ask us to find an expert to talk about the topic. Sometimes this will be from a student midwife or from someone describing themselves as ‘just a midwife’ – and this adds something truly special to our weekly hour together. I also love that we have regular participants who engage in the question and answer session during the last section of the hour – either with fab questions, or with a comment to the presenters. So a huge thank you to the people that come to present, and also the many people who tune in on a Wednesday, or later – allowing for shift work and juggling family responsibilities.
So, we will see you soon on 7-8pm Wednesday evenings, and/or at the face to face Festival in Bath in September or Edinburgh in November. Please do get in touch if you have an ideas, or want to share something you are doing with our family of midwives, student midwives and others in the UK and around the world.
Sue Macdonald, midwife, educator and curator, Maternity and Midwifery festivals, and the Midwifery Hour.
September 2024