Maternity & Midwifery Forum

birthtrauma

Midwifery Feature Articles Uncategorised

Inequities in Maternity Care: Insights from Amma’s ‘Birth Outcomes & Experiences Report’

Debra
Inequity in maternity care is still of concern across all areas of services. Maree Aldam, CEO, and Amanda Purdie, Head of Advocacy and Communications Amma Birth Companions share their recent report that adds to the evidence and points out that so much more needs to be done. _________________________________________ At Amma......
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Midwifery Feature Articles Uncategorised

Birth Trauma – time for a big conversation

Debra
The traumatic experiences some women and partners experience at birth is once more in the news. Neil Stewart, Editorial Director, looks at the ongoing developments related to birth trauma and points to the political responses going forward. _________________________________________ Childbirth comes with risk. Mothers are not ill with an infection; pregnancy......
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Midwifery Feature Articles Uncategorised

All Bodies, All Selves: Anti-Oppressive Practice and Midwifery 

Debra
At the end of LGBT+ history month, in this powerful article, Dr Alys Einion, FRCM, Senior Lecturer, University of Dundee and Editor-in-Chief, The Practising Midwife, raises concerns about oppression in midwifery practice.  She challenges us all to reflect on attitudes and behaviours in practice to value all people we encounter. ......
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Midwifery Feature Articles Uncategorised

Moral Distress/ Moral Injury in Midwives Research Recruitment

Debra
The health inequalities in people receiving maternity services have received growing concern in the country, where pregnant people from Black and South Asian backgrounds were reported to face double to triple the risks of dying during pregnancy [1], and systemic racism has been suggested to contribute to the issue [2].......
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Midwifery Feature Articles Uncategorised

Continuity of care for pregnant women with substance dependency

Debra
Pregnant women with substance dependency are more likely to lead multi-layered, psychologically and socially complex lives and can be distrustful of mainstream services. Dr Elaine Moore, a retired midwife from Ayrshire, Scotland, shares some findings from her recent study exploring midwifery continuity of care and its impact on midwife/mother relationships. ......
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Midwifery Feature Articles Uncategorised

An Introduction to Reflexology in Pregnancy and Birth

Debra
Complementary therapies are often used or sought by women during pregnancy. Reflexology is one such therapy. Did you know there are different types of reflexology? Expert in complementary therapies Dr Denise Tiran, CEO and Education Director for Expectancy, explains the differences in reflex therapies and how they may be used......
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Midwifery Feature Articles Uncategorised

Being a student with emotionally unstable borderline personality disorder

Debra
Midwives and students are all unique and have their own personal challenges and struggles. In this powerful article Gemma Cromwell, third year student midwife at the University of Bedfordshire, shares her story of becoming and achieving as a student with a mental health condition with the support of all around......
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Midwifery Feature Articles Uncategorised

Birth Trauma – the train has left the station

Debra
Concerns about the level of birth trauma women are experiencing are rising, to the extent an Inquiry has been set up by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Birth Trauma. Neil Stewart, editorial Director of the Maternity and Midwifery Forum, explores the reasons behind the rise and challenges midwives and......
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Midwifery Feature Articles Uncategorised

Tackling birth trauma prevention: tips, tools and actions for all

Debra
Understanding and awareness of traumatic experiences of pregnancy and birth has emerged and developed in recent years. This includes those of maternity staff. The topic was recently debated in the UK parliament. In this article Evelien Docherty Communications Lead at Make Birth Better discusses the concerns and frames what can......
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Midwifery Feature Articles Uncategorised

The complexity of a physiological care approach: researching use and competence  

Debra
Our understanding of physiological birth may appear to us to be straightforward. In this article, based on her PhD studies at City, University of London, Florence Darling, QMNC Research Fellow, discusses how complex a physiological care approach is, and emphasises the need for research to understand its use in practice,......
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