Over the UK summer period in the newsletters we are going to reflect on past talks. Midwives have made significant impact through challenging practice. These videos will give you opportunity to think and reflect about your own practice and consider how there is still impact. The first is from Amanda Burleigh, who fought to establish Delayed Cord clamping in practice.
“The most dangerous phrase in any language is: ‘We’ve always done it this way.’” Grace Murray Hopper
For more than a decade, Amanda Burleigh, Midwifery Consultant, has been at the forefront of challenging generations of clinical routine in maternity care and calling for change grounded in both evidence and ethics. The campaign she championed is simple in concept but profound in impact: delay the cutting of the umbilical cord until after a baby has received all the blood it needs.
Now recognised internationally as a leading voice for optimal (delayed) cord clamping, Amanda’s journey from clinical midwife to global advocate is a story of determination, resistance, and a refusal to back down — even when told to be quiet.
The personal campaign has now led her on speaking throughout the world, research activities to make change for resuscitation by the bedside and influencing global policy.
The talk here summarises the story and illustrates the challenges of making change in practice:
Reflection
Having watched the video here are some starter questions for you to consider. They may lead you to consider some more of your own!
- Were you aware of this change prior to watching the video?
- How is the change impacting your local practice? If not, what is stopping it?
- Did knowledge of this change your practice at the time? Will it change your practice now? If not, why is this?
- How did the COVID pandemic change this practice locally?
- Following the video, how do you feel about the process of changing practice? Is this your own experience? How can this be improved?
- Is there anything you would like to change?
We would be interested to read your stories! Tell us more in the comment box below.
3 comments
“I am advocating for a change in the JRCALC guidelines to ensure that, when a suspected cord prolapse is recognised at home, women are not asked to walk to the ambulance. Current protocol may inadvertently put both the mother and baby at increased risk by encouraging mobilisation during a time when immediate management and minimisation of cord compression are critical. The goal is to prioritise safe manual positioning and urgent transport without unnecessary movement, aligning pre-hospital care more closely with obstetric emergency best practice
Would appreciate your thoughts on this please?
Am communicating with AACE at the moment
Regarding this very important subject
I’ve not worked as a midwife since 2017 due to ill health, however the unit I worked in was delaying cord clamping back then. What I find interesting is the potential link between ADHD and immediate cord clamping. My own grandson was born by Em LSCS and his cord cut straight away, he has ADHD. IT makes so much sense to me that this could be the reason why there seems to be such an increase in this condition.
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