Black maternal health: the statistics are grim
Black women are more than twice as likely to die compared with white women, more likely to experience life-threatening complications, more likely to be admitted to ICU, more likely to give birth preterm, and to lose a baby to stillbirth. To add to this list of horrors, another stark statistic; Black women are twice as […]
A week Is a long time in politics – and in maternity care
Every midwife and MSW knows better than to utter the ‘Q’ word. Reflecting on his first 100 days as the RCM’s Public Affairs Adviser, Mike Indian has learned that quiet is a rare commodity in the world of midwifery and maternity. Harold Wilson famously said, “A week is a long time in politics.” Since joining […]
Informed Consent: Search Pack of the Month, November
In line with the Royal College of Midwives’ second highest research priority, MIDIRS free Search Pack of the Month for November is ‘Informed Consent’. In May, the RCM announced their top ten research priorities following the 16-month Research Prioritisation Project which gathered the perspectives of UK-based midwives, student midwives and maternity support workers. We […]
Something to SMiLe about?
In two weeks, the midwifery community will come together in Edinburgh for this year’s SMiLe – Scottish Midwifery Leadership – conference. To be honest, though, it doesn’t feel like there’s much to smile about. Understaffing, underinvestment, and under the cosh – that’s probably a fair summary of maternity services and midwifery education in Scotland right […]
Healing can become your power: the MW2Ghana initiative
About the Author Hayley Sarpong is a British Ghanaian midwife and founder of MW2Ghana, a grassroots initiative connecting UK and Ghanaian midwives to share knowledge and improve maternity care. She also runs HeyHayleys, a blog empowering women through healing and storytelling. Instagram: @heyhayleys_ MW2Ghana Instagram: @mw2ghana Please note that this article contains references to sexual […]
Standing Firm in Pride and Power: Reclaiming Maternal Health Through Advocacy, Innovation & Community
As a midwife, my journey has always been anchored in the belief that maternity care should be compassionate, inclusive, and culturally safe for everyone. This year’s theme: Standing Firm in Pride and Power resonates deeply with my work because it is not only about the clinical support we provide; it’s about dismantling inequities, honouring lived […]
Why supporting women’s choices is key to protecting mental wellbeing
Supporting women’s choices in maternity care isn’t just about autonomy – it’s central to protecting mental wellbeing and ensuring safer outcomes for women and babies. In this blog, Lia Brigante, Professional Policy Advisor at the RCM, explains how personalised care, informed choice and the RCM’s Perinatal Mental Health Roadmap are helping midwives deliver care that […]
Why I am Joining the RCM Digital Midwives Network Forum
When people think of midwifery, they often picture someone at the bedside supporting women in labour and facilitating births. However, Midwifery is broad and spans across a variety of clinical settings, including homes, clinics, communities, hospital wards, theatres, and a suite of specialities including education, research, patient experience and digital. That is one of the […]
Celebrating Black History Month 2025
To mark Black History Month 2025, MIDIRS is spotlighting articles in our 2025 editions of MIDIRS Midwifery Digest that highlight the disparities that Black women experience within midwifery care, as well as the brilliant work being done to reduce this disparity. Black History Month is an annual celebration, marked each October, which recognises the history, […]
‘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 […]