The Maternity & Midwifery Hour

The importance of nurturing midwives’ mental health and reducing the risk of burnout and the impact of trauma exposure has been brought into stark relief over the past couple of years. This session will identify the psychological realities of being a midwife and start to think about how we change the narrative. To do this, we are joined by midwife, coach and author of ‘Flourish’, Dr Kate Greenstoc...

In this session, we are exploring the issue of perinatal mental health, and its short and long-term effects on women, their families and babies. This includes the impact of postnatal depression, and how midwives can support the woman and her family through a return to health, and well-being.   Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifery   Contributions from: Elaine Coote...

This session looks at some issues around breastfeeding, recent research in bottle refusal by breastfed babies, and the intricacies of discussion about medication when breastfeeding. Register to our newsletter to get a personalised reminder from us Join us at 7pm on Wednesday at this hour-long online programme with live audience Q&A to update your knowledge. Live on Maternity and Midwifery Foru...

This session will revisit the NHS England Transformation agenda, reviewing where we are in terms of continuity of care in midwifery services. We will explore also the potential that this type of care has for addressing improved clinical outcomes and social inequalities and disadvantage. Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifery Contributions from: Trixie McAree, National Midwifer...

This episode explores some of the factors that can contribute to better outcomes for women, their babies and families in their experience of postnatal care, especially within inpatient services.   Lesley Turner shares findings from her research into outcomes and quality of care, and the impact of staffing levels; and Elizabeth Duff from the NCT highlights the perspectives of women, their fami...

Cervical ripening is a process of softening and opening the cervix before labour starts. Traditionally, cervical ripening has been performed entirely in-hospital, to allow monitoring of maternal/fetal well-being and early recognition of complications. However, an increasing number of UK maternity units offer outpatient (home) cervical ripening.   This hour, Mairi and Cassandra will discuss ho...

Globally, significant numbers of women report obstetric violence (OV) during childbirth. The United Nations has identified obstetric violence as gendered violence. Obstetric violence can be perpetrated by any healthcare professional (HCP) and is impacted by systemic issues such as HCP education, staffing ratios, and lack of access to continuity of care.   Dr Hazel Keedle PhD is the lead resea...

Series 9 - Episode 1: Safer beginnings – Increasing self-agency in maternity to reduce violence and harm  Kay details the Safer Beginnings programme and how they worked with partners to develop a new set of resources to increase self-agency in relation to reducing violence and harm in maternity.   Amity details the new Free From Harm resource that has been co-produced with their partners...

Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifery Contributions from: Dr Kathryn Gutteridge , Independent Consultant Midwife & Psychotherapist Dr Jenny Hall , Editor & Curator, MATFLIX and Maternity & Midwifery Forum Sheena Byrom OBE , Director, All4Maternity Jo Dagustun , AIMS volunteer

Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifery Biographies Maeve O'Connell Maeve is a Registered Midwife and Nurse. Coming from Cork in the Republic of Ireland, she is passionate about midwifery, intrapartum care in particular and has a strong presence on social media as a nurse and midwife promoting midwifery and maternal and new-born health. Maeve holds a Master’s in Advanced Practi...

The importance of being aware of the limited resources of the planet, protecting our ecological systems and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, may seem disconnected from everyday midwifery practice…This session will outline how these issues are affecting maternal health, how the care we provide contributes to the problem, and how we can all be involved in creating the change needed to achieve a li...

Can you reduce and recognise severe tears?   In this episode, Lizzie Phillips asks if midwives can change the story of women's pelvic health, sharing women's real stories following perineal damage.  As midwives, we are women's advocates and have opportunities to educate women, use techniques to reduce trauma during birth and give real choices throughout pregnancy and birth to the familie...

Our research project examined informed consent during pregnancy, labour, and birth in the case of parents with limited English-proficiency (LEP) in Scotland and for whom interpreting services might be needed. It is often difficult for LEP parents to access adequate information in their own languages during perinatal care and this greatly contributes to poor maternal health outcomes.   The mai...

The weeks following birth, also referred to as the fourth trimester, are a critical period for both mother and baby, setting the foundations for long-term health and well-being. Postpartum care should be an ongoing process, rather than a single encounter, with services and support tailored to each woman’s individual needs to optimise health and improve outcomes for women and the wider community. &...

Giving birth by Caesarean Section can be challenging for women and their families, as they cope with recovering after major surgery and caring for a new baby. Janine and Leonie, two very experienced midwives, wrote ‘C-Section Recovery Manual: Your Body, Your Recovery’, for women as a unique resource. In this session they will share how we, as midwives and maternity care workers, can support, educa...

In this session we are looking at current challenges facing maternity care, and midwives. We will look at strategies to shine brightly, using different perspectives, and looking at how we as midwives can speak out, write and share what we do and what we can do.   (SFA) We also explore how you can, as a midwife shape the agenda!   Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifer...

Series 8 - Episode 5: World Mental Health Day Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) We are joined for this episode by a world expert on ICP as well as someone who has experienced the condition. This session will focus on to date, evidence based information on what ICP is, how to recognise it and how midwives (and students) can manage and support women and families experiencing this condition...

Series 8 - Episode 4: Research on the Student Experience This session focuses on research into student midwives’ perspectives, both before they come into midwifery and what their experiences are towards the end of their programme. This has huge implications for the students and for the midwives and lecturers supporting them through their midwifery journey. Does a student midwife’s personal experie...

Waterbirth - the evidence  Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifery  Contributions from:  Dr Claire Feeley, Researcher and Lecturer at King’s College London   Dr Ethel Burns, Senior Lecturer and Researcher, Oxford Brookes University   Professor Charles Roehr, Clinical Director, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit - Clinical Trials Unit; Associate Profes...

Going for Gold - UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative in the University  Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifery  Contributions from:  Dr Alison Taylor, Lead Midwife for Education, Deputy Head of Department Midwifery and Health Sciences, Baby Friendly Project Lead Lecturer, University National Infant Feeding (NIFN) Lead, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academ...

Personal and professional challenges  Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifery  Contributions from: Dr Denise Tiran, CEO / Education Director, Expectancy, Visiting Professor, Qingdao Huikang School of Midwifery, Shanghai, China and; Tamsin Bicknell, Consultant Midwife for Public Health and Safeguarding, Co-chair NEL LMNS, Florence Nightingale Foundation Scholar Live on...

In this session we are looking at truly cutting-edge research work into the influences of power and hierarchy on staff safety and wellbeing; the underpinning problems of psychological vulnerability creating cultural challenges to staff safety; and poor working conditions creating workplace adversity. We consider different evidence-based strategies which may improve outcomes for staff, patients, an...

In this session we are exploring current challenges facing maternity care and midwives. We will look at strategies to shine brightly, with Radha Wilson-Jefferies, emotional health coach for midwives and Dr Jan Smith, Psychologist and Coach, who will talk about supporting staff and her new mental health app for midwives.  Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifery  Contri...

Women’s experiences of post-traumatic growth following traumatic birth In this session we will be exploring womens' experience of traumatic birth, through an important research project looking at women’s post traumatic growth. This research has important messages for women’s, families and professionals in providing care, and supporting women who may experience traumatic birth.   Hosted by: Su...

Voices From the Student Front   Hosted by: Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifery  Contributions from: Nicky Clark, Head of Midwifery and Child/Lead Midwife for Education/ Senior Lecturer, Chair of the NMCLME Strategic Reference Group| SFHEA |Chief Midwifery Officer Gold Award 2020 and Nicole Rajan-Brown, Editor, Student Midwife Journal   Live on Maternity and Midwifery Fo...