The Maternity & Midwifery Hour

Series 13 - Episode 10: Supporting mother and baby when a problem with an upper limb is identified Examining the newborn requires extensive skills and knowledge of anatomy and physiology, of communicating findings to the mother and family of when all appears normal, and what to say and do when a deviation from the normal is noticed. In this session we focus on the examination of the upper limbs, w...

Series 13 - Episode 9: The Virtual Midwifery Caseload: Bringing women's voices into the classroom The need to prepare students for real life practice, encompassing continuity of care, caseload holding and contemporary maternity care as well as the ability to effectively listen, and plan care in partnership with women and families is essential. This week we will be looking at an exciting innova...

Series 13 - Episode 8: Empathy - improving care for women, babies and families Today's maternity services are busy and potentially stressful areas for women to navigate and for midwives and student midwives to provide individualised and appropriate antenatal, labour and postnatal care. Developing an empathic approach to care can really impact on the experience of the women and family, their ac...

Series 13 - Episode 7: Record keeping and frameworks Notes and record keeping. We are all aware of the importance of record keeping, as a tool for continuity of care, and as a legal requirement, and as one of the key competencies. So how do we cope with effective record keeping, without getting swamped, without losing time with the woman and baby or worse forgetting to record some aspect of our ca...

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) affects connective tissue throughout the body and has profound impacts during pregnancy, birth and beyond. In this session, Dr Sally Pezaro will first illuminate the ways in which she led a multidisciplinary and international team in co-creating the first evidence based clinical guidelines for the management of childbearing with hypermobile EDS (hEDS) and Hypermobility...

In this hour we explore Postpartum Psychosis also known as Postnatal Psychosis, an important condition which can impact on women and their families after the birth of a baby. Dr Sally Wilson will share what is known about Postpartum Psychosis, and its recognition, and how families can be supported through this. Shaheda Akhtar will talk about their experience and issues faced by families who experi...

This week we celebrated International Day of the Midwife on the 5th May, a Day when the whole world midwife family celebrates their role with mothers, babies and families, and their impact on the world. This year the theme of the IDM is Midwives: A Vital Climate Solution. We are delighted to welcome Dr Kathryn Gutteridge to talk midwifery on this IDM week. Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Exper...

The importance of environment and the support of the clinical team is well known for assisting students, and qualified staff to develop a learning culture, thus improving the information, support and care to women, babies and families in their journey through pregnancy through to motherhood and early parenting. In this hour, we will explore the ICM Global Midwifery education standards, and share k...

Achieving a work-life balance as a midwife is a personal and a service challenge. How to approach your own work life choices in your career, addressing stress, accessing support and insight into personal strategies from experts. The demands of a service with staff shortages, a changing demographic of mothers with more complex conditions, the pressures and fear of errors. Looking after yourself so...

Is being a midwife, and staying in midwifery centred on emotional intelligence and compassion or all about money? In the first of series 13, we explore two midwifery issues which have an impact on how we as midwives function, and in terms of midwives short and long term well-being in the health service. We know how stressful the maternity services landscape can be, and this is often because staffi...

Series 12 - Episode 10: Anti-oppressive practice in midwifery and maternity services As we come to the end of Season 12, we have an opportunity to reflect on oppression in midwifery practice and maternity services and how we all, as individuals, can reflect on our own attitudes and behaviours in order to counter bias and address social injustice, exclusion and discrimination. We are delighted to w...

An important part of a student’s journey to become a midwife lies in learning theoretical and clinical skills. In this session experienced midwifery lecturers, Lindsey Rose and Rosy Jordan alongside student midwife Amy Solt share how the assessment process works, how to prepare for assessment, what supervisors are looking for and getting used to completing the paperwork. Hosted by: Sue Macdonald,...

In this session focusing on pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, our two speakers, Anja Johansen-Bibby, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Lead for Maternal Medicine at Milton Keyes University Hospital and Layla Lavallee Registered Midwife and NIHR Doctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford, discuss care during labour and birth, sharing the latest evidence and research for ensuring high quality m...

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, joins us to talk about continuity of care and its value to the building and maintenance of relationships between safeguarding midwives and pregnant women with substance d...

In this session, Midwife Maria Rowntree and Professor Calvin Moorley explore the value and learning through initiatives such as the Dame Elizabeth Anionwu Inclusivity fellowship. Maria will then discuss the complexity of understanding privilege, inclusion and the impact of power, and what we should be doing to support women and their families for whom English is not their first language. Hosted by...

This week we are exploring some alternatives in managing pain in labour. We have two leading practitioners presenting two strategies: 1.The use of combs during labour 2. Introduction to Reflexology in Pregnancy and Birth that may be useful for some women, and highlighting what midwives need to know too. Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals...

In this hour, Florence Wilcock, obstetrician and mum, and midwives Deepa Santosh and Helen Green explore how we can improve the experience of women, their babies and families as they pass through the maternity services. How does our perspective impact on our view, and the way we provide care, and how can we truly make the service kinder, more individualised and safer for all involved? Hosted by: S...

Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia continue to be major causes of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity and can adversely impact on the experience of women and their families. The charity, Action of Pre-eclampsia (APEC), provides support to women, families, and to professionals. In this session our two speakers, Hsu Chong and Erum Khan, will be exploring the most recent research and evidence aro...

In this session we expand our horizons to look at maternity services and midwifery in the world, with the help of our two special presenters : Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwife at the International Confederation of Midwives, and Joy Kemp, RCM Fellow. Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery Contribu...

This week we are looking at two important reports: the new MBRRACE-UK Perinatal Confidential Enquiry, and the Sands Listening Project. Both reports focus on the experiences of Black and Asian women and their parents of loss after a stillbirth or neonatal death. Benash Nazmeen, Assistant Professor in Midwifery, Bradford University, and member of the Enquiry stakeholder group, will explore the MBRRA...

As 2023 draws to a close, the final Maternity & Midwifery Hour of 2024 will review the wide range of topics and maternity leaders who have shared their knowledge and passion with us all over the past year, reflect on the challenges facing maternity and midwifery and look forward to 2024 to spotlight just a snapshot of some of the fantastic innovations that are taking place in the service and t...

In this session we are exploring contemporary midwifery care during labour. This includes a presentation on the use of sterile water injections during labour, and labour aromatherapy. We will explore the impact of the NICE guidelines, the forthcoming RCM guidelines and the recent CQC and Ockenden reviews, and consider how best to inform and support women and their families. Sue Macdonald, Midwifer...

Birth trauma is often preventable. In this session Perinatal Psychiatrist and Co-founder of Make Birth Better Dr Rebecca Moore and Make Birth Better CEO Nikki Wilson will talk you through tips, tools and actions that every healthcare professional can take to reduce birth trauma. Together with service user voices, Rebecca and Nikki will cover susceptibility to birth trauma, trauma enquiry, consent,...

This will be a conversation between Lesley Page, an experienced midwife who has worked to humanise childbirth over many years, and Clare Wardhaugh whose life has been committed to authentic lived spirituality and an understanding of love and its practice. Clare and Lesley are working together on a chapter for a forthcoming book, Midwifery and Love. They are exploring insights from their different...

Presentations will include some insights from international midwives and those supporting them in practice. Hosted by: Dr Anna Byrom, Creative Director - The Practising Midwife, The Student Midwife and All4Maternity Contribution from: Dr Anna Byrom, Creative Director - The Practising Midwife, The Student Midwife and All4Maternity Neesha Ridley, Lead Midwife, All4Maternity Dr Aaron Turner, Director...