Alliance Partners
The Alliance partnership scheme develops relations with like-minded organisations who share similar values and goals. These partnerships help promote the RCM’s work and commitment to maternity professionals.
Partners in the Alliance programme work hard to advance the interests of midwives and the midwifery profession. Shared ethics and ideas combine in dedicated support of midwives and all those touched by their care and the Alliance strives to enhance the wellbeing of women, babies and their families.
Alliance Programme objectives
To raise the profile of midwives and the RCM, both internally and externally
To deliver direct benefits, promote and advance the interest of every midwife and the midwifery profession throughout the UK
To consolidate and extend the range of the RCM activities
To support the influence of the RCM with the public and decision makers
To build long-term selective Alliance partnerships to maximise commercial opportunities
To protect and further the care provided by midwives for all mothers, newborns and their families
Slimming World
The UK based weight management organisation is working in partnership with the RCM to raise awareness of the importance of healthy weight management in pregnancy to improve the health of women and their babies. Slimming World is the only national weight management organisation to support women through every stage of their pregnancy – from pre-conception to postnatal care. For pregnant women, the focus is not on weight loss, but on healthy lifestyle changes, always with the support of their midwife or healthcare team. Our priority is a happy, healthy mum-to be.
An evidence-based approach
Slimming World invests in ongoing evaluation and development of our programme to ensure we continue to stay up to date with the latest evidence and national guidelines. We also publish research to add to the scientific literature in key areas. Our Nutrition, Research & Health function is comprised of registered nutritionists and dietitians, plus experts in psychology, food data and research. In addition, we are supported by a specialist advisor panel, including experts in the fields of nutrition, activity, psychology and behaviour change.
Advantages to behaviour change in pregnancy
Eating a healthy, balanced diet and preventing excess weight gain is important for health at any time in life. During pregnancy, when the benefits can extend to the unborn baby and the wider family, this can feel even more valuable. Taking small steps in becoming more active also has significant benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing during pregnancy, birth and postnatally. Pregnancy can be a key time to offer support as mums-to-be can often be more open to making behaviour changes.
Slimming World and the RCM
Providing support to women throughout all stages of life is something Slimming World is proud to offer. Many members join Slimming World after gaining weight during a pregnancy. They can then be worried about falling back into less healthy eating habits and regaining excess weight during subsequent pregnancies. More than 20 years ago, knowing how excess gestational weight gain can increase the risks to mum and baby, Slimming World opened their doors to pregnant members to offer support. Since then, we have worked closely with the RCM to develop our pregnancy policy and ensure we can safely support members throughout their pregnancies, with a focus on developing healthy behaviours and preventing excess weight gain, rather than weight loss.
Visit slimmingworld.co.uk/health for more information about our approach and the underlying science, and our factsheet contains information on how Slimming World supports pregnant and breastfeeding members, including our policy.
Useful resources for midwives and MSWs
Supporting weight management in pregnancy
Together Slimming World and the RCM have created a website to help women successfully manage their weight before, during and after pregnancy. It includes valuable advice for women who are trying for a baby, are already pregnant or mums who have a newborn, including information about eating well, staying active, living a healthier lifestyle and managing weight.
The labour Information pack also includes product samples to support both pregnant women and newborn babies. Both Emma’s Diary and the Labour information pack are Baby Friendly and all content complies in full to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
To place an order, free of charge across the UK, please call 01628 535 482. Alternatively, email your order details to orders@emmasdiary.co.uk
Website cards for mums
Midwives can order Slimming World cards, which include a link to the Slimming World/RCM website (mentioned above), to give to women who are interested in accessing information on a healthy lifestyle before, during and after pregnancy.
To order the cards, please email here.
The Emma’s Diary App can be downloaded on the App Store or Google Play.
Combined due date and BMI calculator
We’ve developed this two-in-one BMI and gestational weeks calculator for midwives, to help you calculate a woman’s due date and Body Mass Index at booking.
The wheel uses sensitive and pregnancy-specific wording relating to weight management in pregnancy, to help midwives have supportive conversations with mums-to-be.
Discussing weight during pregnancy booklet
Discussing weight can be difficult. The Discussing weight during pregnancy booklet, created through the partnership between Slimming World and the RCM, is designed to help midwives discuss a woman’s weight in the context of possible weight-related risks during her pregnancy.
It contains a chart which can be used to show pregnant women what their weight at booking means. The wording next to the chart has been carefully written to provide helpful pointers for discussion and is specifically designed to enable a positive, sensitive and productive conversation. Printed copies of the resource can be requested by emailing here.
Following feedback from some midwives working with women whose BMI lies outside the existing chart, we have also created an extended version of the chart.
i-learn module, Obesity – supporting women
Slimming World has worked with the RCM to develop an online course to help midwives and midwifery support workers to support pregnant women with healthy weight management. The module, which takes approximately 90 minutes to complete, includes information, practical tips and audio examples to enhance the learning experience. RCM members can click here to access the course free of charge.
Supporting RCM members to lead a healthy lifestyle
Slimming World is delighted to support the RCM’s Caring for You Campaign through our bespoke resources on healthy eating and staying active for RCM members. These include:
- Top tips for eating healthily and keeping active
- Ideas for healthy eating
- Food and mood
- Preparing healthy food for work
- Healthy and filling microwaveable meals in minutes
- Keeping healthy and active during the menopause
- Ways to improve sleep quality and manage changing sleep patterns to support a healthier lifestyle
- Alcohol and health
Pregnacare
Vitabiotics Pregnacare is delighted to be working with the Royal College of Midwives as an Alliance Partner.
Pregnacare is the UK’s No. pregnancy supplement brand* for every stage of pregnancy, offering scientifically formulated nutritional support for before, during and after. Most trusted by mums**, Pregnacare has supported health pregnancies for over 30 years.
Download our A-Z guide of Pregnancy and Nutrition here.
This booklet for pregnancy people provides information on pregnancy & nutrition in a handy A-Z format.
To order copies, please email pregnacare@vitabiotics.com
Pregnacare Original – 19 vitamins & minerals
The original formula provides 19 essential vitamins and minerals, including 400µg folic acid and 108g vitamin D, the exact levels recommended by the Department of Health. Pregnacare is also available in liquid format, for those who may have difficulty swallowing tablets.
Pregnacare Plus – Dual pack with Omega-3 DHA
The original Pregnacare formulation together with a high quality Omega-3 capsule, each containing 300mg DHA. Maternal intake of SHA contributes to the normal development of the eye and brain of the foetus.
Pregnacare Max – maximum support in the range
Pregnacare Max all of the benefits of Original and Plus with added Calcium and Vitamin D, which help maintain normal bones and teeth. Pregnacare Max also contains L-Methylfolate, a more bioavailable and easily absorbed form of folic acid.
Pregnacare Breastfeeding
A carefully balanced, expert formula designed to safeguard nutrient intake in the breastfeeding period. Contains 300mg DHA – maternal intake of DHA contributes to the normal brain and eye development of breast-fed infants, 700mg calcium which contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth, and 10mcg vitamin D, the exact amount advised by the Department of Health whilst breast-feeding.
Pregnacare New Mum
Pregnacare New Mum is specifically formulated for the post-natal period, with specific nutrients for hair, skin and to help reduce tiredness. Pregnacare New Mum contains vitamin B12 and iron which contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, as well as biotin and zinc which help maintain normal hair and skin.
In 2013, Vitabiotics became the first British business to receive a coveted Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation for its vitamin research. This has been awarded for the development of its Pregnacare® range and in recognition of the groundbreaking, highly successful Pregnacare clinical research. clinical research.
A further study supported by Pregnacare showed folic acid improves children’s cognitive development if taken throughout pregnancy. Read here to find out more.
