‘Winning the award gave me the motivation to keep speaking up for those whose voices aren’t always heard’
I still remember the moment my name was read out at the RCM Awards last year. I was so shocked that I went the wrong way up the stage! I hadn’t expected to win at all – I was just proud to have been nominated. To be recognised as the RCM’s Unsung Hero was such […]
Reflections on Baby Loss Awareness Week
As Baby Loss Awareness Week comes to a close, Clare Livingstone, Head of Professional Policy and Practice at the RCM, reflects on what it means to midwives and maternity staff who are impacted. Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 October) is a time for reflection, remembrance and compassion. It’s a week when families across the UK […]
Notable Events This Baby Loss Awareness Week
Baby Loss Awareness Week is marked annually on the 9-15 October, supporting bereaved parents and families to commemorate their babies’ lives. The week, which is supported by over 100 charities, is also a time for midwives, MSWs and other healthcare professionals to reflect on the impact of baby loss on themselves, an event which can […]
Midwifery deserves more
When we were told earlier this year that NHS England (NHSE) was planning to develop a new strategy for nursing and midwifery, I was hopeful. Maternity care – and midwifery as a fundamental part of that – has never been under greater scrutiny, or greater pressure. Having a strategy which underpins and enhances the value […]
‘My baby’s smile pulled me back and reminded me I needed to keep going’
When it comes to perinatal mental health, lived experience can be one of the most powerful tools for change. For many midwives, the journey into supporting others begins with their own experience of struggling in silence. As the Royal College of Midwives launches its Perinatal Mental Health Roadmap calling for fair, consistent care across the […]
Stress and Burnout in Midwifery: Search Pack of the Month, October
To mark World Mental Health Day 2025, MIDIRS Search Pack of the Month for October is M10: Stress and Burnout in Midwifery. Friday 10 October is World Mental Health Day, a reminder not only of the vital role midwives and maternity professionals play in supporting parents’ mental wellbeing, but the importance of looking after their […]
Advancing equality, diversity and inclusion at the Royal College of Midwives: Our journey to foster belonging
One of our strategic aims is to build the midwifery community – and at the heart of that is a sense of belonging. The equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives the Royal College of Midwives pursues are not merely desirable but vital for staff and members alike. Black History Month takes place in the UK […]
The light in the rainbow
There are plenty of occasions in my work as a community midwife where I wish I could offer more support than is possible within the limitations of my job. This often occurs when I am caring for those experiencing pregnancy after loss – something which can lead to huge amounts of anxiety, fear, and a […]
Shaping the Future of Stillbirth Research: the Stillbirth Priority Setting Partnership
The Stillbirth Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) is seeking UK-based parents, professionals, and individuals affected by stillbirth to help them shape the future of stillbirth research. The Stillbirth PSP recently asked individuals affected by stillbirth to share the most important unanswered questions about: The causes of stillbirth Care and information for mothers during pregnancy that might […]
Our journey as young mothers and founders of the Stay With Me Foundation
We’re Alice and Lola, two young mums who know first-hand the joys and the challenges that motherhood brings. On the surface, people often see the smiles, the baby cuddles, and the ‘picture perfect’ moments that come with having children. But behind those moments, there is a reality that doesn’t always get spoken about enough: the […]