Contribution from: Dr Jacqui Williams, Senior Midwifery Advisor (Education), Professional Practice Directorate, Nursing & Midwifery Council
The NMC has worked with key stakeholders to develop these principles to respond to queries that midwives have raised with us in regard to choices women are making.
The session will cover principles from the perspective of the woman, the midwife, the employer and the NMC.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contributions from:
Dr Jacqui Williams, Senior Midwifery Advisor (Education), Professional Practice Directorate, Nursing & Midwifery Council
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
In this week’s hour we are exploring the experiences and perspectives of doulas working within the UK maternity services and privately employed. We are joined by Dr Amanda Hutcherson who is presenting her research into how training as a birth supporter impacts on women’s lives and identities. We welcome Trudi Dawson from DoulaUK who highlights the different pathways into becoming a doula and the updating requirements.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contributions from:
Amanda Hutcherson, Midwifery Educationalist
Trudi Dawson, Doula, Doula UK
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
Series 17 - Episode 5: The empty crib: loss and bereavement in pregnancy and childbirth
Featuring Lauren Petrie, Specialist Bereavement Midwife, Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital
This week, as we come to the end of baby loss week, our focus is on mothers and families who lose a baby at whatever stage of their pregnancy and, importantly, what midwives can do to support them through this time and beyond.
Our guests will discuss how midwives can support mothers and families through the loss of their baby, through to looking ahead to consider future hopes and plans.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contributions from:
Lauren Petrie, Specialist Bereavement Midwife, Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital
Series 17 - Episode 4: Collaboration in Action – towards Better Births together
This session will be a chance to discuss the collaborative efforts of Make Birth Better to address the challenges facing maternity and perinatal care by building on the strength of grass root, charitable and shared-commitment organisations to work towards ensuring quality, safe and rights-based care for all who choose to access maternity and perinatal care services.
MaM Birth Collective Meets Make Birth Better
Come and join Dr Anna Byrom, CEO of All4Maternity as she hosts our upcoming Maternity and Midwifery Hour where she will be joined by Make Birth Better CEO, Laura-Rose Thorogood. Together they will share insights into the collaborative work they are engaged in working towards better births for all who access midwifery, maternity and perinatal care. This is your chance to learn more about the work of Make Birth Better and the Midwifery and Maternity Birth Collective and consider ways we can all move towards better births together, through collaboration.
Contributions from:
Dr Anna Byrom, CEO, All4Maternity
Laura-Rose Thorogood, CEO, Make Birth Better
Series 17 - Episode 3: Postnatal care – Getting it right
Dr Lesley Turner, Head of Practice Education (Nursing & Midwifery) Senior Teaching Fellow in Midwifery Care, University of Southampton
Judith Cutter, Consultant Midwife for Public Health and Vulnerable Families, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Postnatal care has often been likened to the Cinderella of the Maternity Services. However, the postnatal period, the time when the new mother is coping with and getting to know her new baby, or babies, dealing with tiredness and physical changes as her body should be returning to it's pre pregnancy condition, as well as the newborn baby requiring care and assessment, is a critical time for women, their babies and families. The midwife has a unique role in providing support and care during this transition, to confirm normality, develop the mothers and family’s confidence in caring for the baby and to act as a link to other services should these be required.
In this episode, Dr Lesley Turner will share her findings from the 3rd and 4th published studies in her PhD, which looked at large datasets of shift-level staffing in 3 NHS trusts over 4 years. Understaffing was identified and care consequences were also mapped and Lesley will present findings related to postnatal readmissions and reports of harmful events alongside the implications for staff planning and the direction of future research. We will also hear from Judith Cutter, Consultant Midwife for Public Health and Vulnerable Families, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contributions from:
Dr Lesley Turner, Head of Practice Education (Nursing & Midwifery) Senior Teaching Fellow in Midwifery Care, University of Southampton
Judith Cutter, Consultant Midwife for Public Health and Vulnerable Families, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Series 17 - Episode 2: Sharing the News that a Baby has Down’s Syndrome – Supporting Families
Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of a full or partial third copy of chromosome 21 in the body’s cells. It is sometimes shortened to “Ds” and in some countries called Down syndrome. Approximately one in every 1,000 babies is born with Down’s syndrome. In Scotland, around 70 babies are born each year, with an estimated 4,500 people currently living with the condition.
Screening for Down’s syndrome is offered in pregnancy, and families may make different choices: some may opt not to screen, some may choose to screen and continue with the pregnancy, while others may decide differently. Whatever the decision, midwives play a vital role in ensuring families receive clear, up-to-date, and compassionate information.
This session, led by Varshali Swadi, Professional Engagement and Development Lead at Down’s Syndrome Scotland, will explore how midwives can best support families when sharing news that a baby has Down’s syndrome. The session will also include a video from a parent speaker, offering insight into lived experience.
You will:
Gain up-to-date knowledge about Down’s syndrome, associated health issues, and learning profiles.
Understand how to provide sensitive support through screening, diagnosis, and the neonatal period.
Hear lived experience from a parent of a child with Down’s syndrome.
Learn about sources of support available for families and professionals.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Varshali Swadi, Professional Engagement and Development Lead, Down’s Syndrome Scotland
Bev Insch, Parent Volunteer, Down's Syndrome Scotland
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
For those of us who are midwives and those on the pathway to becoming midwives, we know that this vocation is never dull, often a challenge and part of this is coping with changing knowledge and practice - ensuring that we keep up with those changes, absorb the new evidence and add to our existing skills and knowledge set.
In this, the first episode of the 17th series of Maternity and Midwifery Hour, we are joined by two midwives who will be highlighting two key areas with us.
Stephanie Michaelides, midwifery & neonatal education consultant will be discussing the first examination of the newborn after birth, which traditionally takes place in the birthing room. What do we as midwives need to concentrate on.. and how has this assessment changed over the years?
And Dr Anna Madeley, Senior midwifery Lecturer, explores how we, as midwives, can improve issues around consent for women by changing the way we position language in maternity care.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Stephanie Michaelides, Midwifery & Neonatal Education Consultant
Dr Anna Madeley, Senior Midwifery Lecturer, University of Northampton
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
Series 16 - Episode 12: What’s love got to do with midwifery?
The need for effective, compassionate and high quality care for women, babies and families is crucial. This week we are joined by Dr Diane Menage and Dr Jenny Patterson, to look at the next step in the story of the role of love and compassion in practice and with our colleagues. This builds on research and evidence in supporting midwives and student midwives to get in touch with how connection and love can impact on their practice, the workplace and the ability to recapture their passion and joy in midwifery practice.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Dr Diane Menage, Lecturer, De Monfort University
Dr Jenny Patterson, Midwifery lecturer, Edinburgh Napier University
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
Series 16 - Episode 11: The Maternity Safety Agenda
Hear two maternity leaders on practical steps to improve the safety of maternity care and ensure women the best childbirth experience they can have.
At the start of a 6-month government inquiry into Maternity Safety, do you need to understand the issues and challenges?
How has the shape and practice of maternity services lost the confidence of government and many women?
What do maternity services and midwifery have to do differently in the future?
Insights into all these challenges will be explored ahead of the important Royal College of Midwives maternity Safety Summit on 16 July.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Dr Kathryn Gutteridge, Independent Consultant Midwife, Honorary Associate Professor Midwifery and PsychotherapistPast President, Royal College of Midwives
Professor Mary Renfrew OBE, UK Professors in Midwifery and Maternal and Newborn HealthRead Bio
This week we are looking at research and some of the exciting midwifery focused research projects in progress.
This includes the NIHR-funded Research for Equitable Antenatal Care and Health (REACH) Pregnancy Circles Randomised Controlled Trial, which is seeking to improve access to antenatal care and enhance women’s experiences and value of care in areas of high deprivation and high ethnic diversity.
The PROMISE study is a project addressing the major disparities in outcomes for black and brown women, by increasing their involvement in health and maternity based research.
We are joined by Dr Georgia Clancy, Lead Researcher on the Promise Study, and Professor Christine McCourt, Lead on the REACH Study.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Dr Georgia Clancy, Research Fellow, the PROMISE Study, University of Nottingham
Prof Christine McCourt, Professor of Maternal and Child Health, City St George’s, University of London; REACH Study Lead
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
Series 16 - Episode 9: The Midwife's role in Facilitating Early Connections
As we enter Baby Communication Week, with the theme of 'Born to Connect' highlighted by the Brazelton Centre, this evening we will focus on the complex processes of communication between the baby and those around them.
We are joined by Inge Nickell, Director of the Brazelton Centre UK and Stephanie Kinder, Specialist Midwife at North Bristol NHS Trust and Brazelton Champion who will be discussing how midwives can feel confident and knowledgeable in supporting the parents and care givers in understanding how the baby communicates through their behaviour, in order to support the growing parent-infant relationship.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Inge Krogh Nickell, Director of the Brazelton Centre UK
Stephanie Kinder, Specialist Midwife at North Bristol NHS Trust and Brazelton Champion
Maternal Nutrition - Breaking Barriers and Building Confidence for Midwives with Anna Byrom (All4Maternity) and Marie Louise (The Modern Midwife).
Stillbirth is a deeply challenging outcome of pregnancy, and families often look to their midwives for answers and support. In this session, we’ll explore where genomic testing is becoming a valuable tool in understanding the causes of stillbirth—and where its limitations lie. Through an illustrative case study and discussion of real-world pathways, we’ll highlight how midwives can play a key role in communicating genomic information, supporting informed decisions, and guiding families with empathy and clarity.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Tina Prendeville , Lead Midwife, North Thames Genomic Medicine Service Alliance and Senior Research Midwife, Imperial College London
Denise Barnes , Lead Midwife for Genomics, North East & Yorkshire Genomic Medicine Service Alliance
Emma Tomlinson, Specialist Rainbow Clinic Midwife, Tommy’s
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
Series 16 - Episode 7: How babies sleep – from birth towards the first year
A critical part of the midwife’s role is caring for the newborn baby and helping the mother and parents understand more about their baby’s behaviour and care.
An important part of the baby’s life is sleep and their sleep pattern, alongside balancing parents’ own needs.
In this session we are joined by midwife and neonatal nurse, Stephanie Michaelides, who will discuss the first 48 hours of neonatal life and Professor Helen L Ball, anthropologist and infant sleep researcher, who will bring together the research, anthropological understanding and practice advice that will help practitioners, and most importantly parents, to understand their babies better and navigate the first year of their baby’s life.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Professor Helen Ball, Professor of Anthropology, University of Durham and Director, Durham Infancy & Sleep Centre
Stephanie Michaelides, Midwife, Neonatal Nurse, and Education Consultant
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
Series 16 - Episode 6: Listening to and engaging with our communities
Have you thought about working in a different way? Setting up an antenatal class locally or undertaking aromatherapy or complementary therapy work? Or would you like to plan this for the future… or just get better at skills in networking?
We are joined by Dr Denise Tiran and Dianne Garland who will share some of their personal experiences, strategies and top tips to help student midwives and midwives gain useful skills and greater confidence for future practice.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Dr Denise Tiran, CEO and Education Director, Expectancy
Dianne Garland, SRN RM ADM PGCEA MSc, Midwifery Consultant and Author
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
Dalvir and Barbara discuss the importance of engaging with diverse communities to improve clinical outcomes, patient experiences and research quality. They share effective strategies for community engagement, highlight success stories and offer practical guidance on how you can apply these approaches in your own clinical practice and research initiatives.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Dalvir Kandola, Consultant Midwife - Lead for Inclusivity, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Barbara Czyznikowska, Community Engagement and Inclusion Manager, Centre for Ethnic Health Research, University of Leicester
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
Doulas provide practical, emotional and nurturing support to women and their families during pregnancy, childbirth and the early parenthood period. They may be employed privately by the woman, or may be provided for disadvantaged groups of women, whether due to financial, language issues and/or refugee status, providing support and advocacy.
In this session, Sallyann Beresford will talk about her role as a Doula, and Trudi Dawson, Director of Doula UK will discuss the UK’s number one source of information for and about doulas. Doula UK offers training, mentoring and ongoing support within the doula community to ensure positive experiences for women and families. Their offering includes the unique Doula Access Fund which can enable women who are vulnerable or disadvantaged, to receive Doula support, and improve the experience of women, babies and families.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Sallyann Beresford, Doula, Author and Antenatal Educator
Trudi Dawson Director of Engagement, Doula UK
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
Series 16 - Episode 3: Pregnancy and motherhood in criminal justice settings
What impact does prison have on pregnant and childbearing women and how does this affect society in its wider context?
Recent media reports have provided a picture of the experience women will have and deeper research and policy work by our speaker this evening, Dr Laura Abbott, Associate Professor of Research at the University of Hertfordshire, hghlights the short and long term effects of prison on women and families. Further, Laura’s work focusses on what needs to be done to improve maternity and neonatal care for women and babies and how prison staff and others can work together to improve the experience and reduce morbidity and poor outcomes.
We will also hear about The Lost Mother’s Project, the Pregnancy in Prison Partnership International (PIPPI) and the UK-wide Prison Midwives Action Group (PMAG) and recent creative work in dissemination of research through art and theatre.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Dr Laura Abbott, Associate Professor in Research, The University of Hertfordshire
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
Series 16 - Episode 2: Consultant Midwives are critical in every crisis: A great Midwifery career - choices, directions and routes.
Being a midwife is an exciting, challenging role, where no one day is exactly the same as another. It is crucial that midwives are able to use their commitment and skills in the role that feels positive and professionally rewarding. As a profession we face the impact of difficulties with recruitment and retention, and some practitioners might feel that their current role is not fulfilling, or that they are unable to develop further.
This evening we will be looking at careers within midwifery, and how you can choose what route you take within midwifery, what planning might help you reach your goal, and options that are available to help you develop as a midwife. Patience Gyampeh, Consultant midwife and academic joins us to describe her own career pathway, and what she has learned, plus suggesting some key tips to guide you in your choices.
Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery
Contribution from:
Patience Gyampeh, Associate Professor of Midwifery, University of Suffolk; Consultant Midwife, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
Series 16 - Episode 1: Early detection, early action: Exploring Awareness of Genomic Testing at the Initial Midwifery Appointment
Genomics is fundamental to midwifery practice and is incorporated into the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Standards of Proficiency for Midwives.
It is important that all midwives can talk about genomics with confidence. For many midwives there is a need to upskill, but it can be difficult to know where to start.
Find out more about genomics and the midwife’s role at this week’s Maternity and Midwifery Hour.
Hosted by:
Neil Stewart, Editorial Director, Maternity & Midwifery Forum
Contribution from:
Jo Hargrave, Lead Midwife, East GMSA
Marianne Quinn, Lead Midwife, South East GMSA
Karen Creed, Lead Midwife, Central and South GMSA
Supported by MATFLIX: https://matflix.co.uk
Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: https://mmf.eventbrite.com
Watch the live stream: https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live
