ICM Opening ceremony a student perspective
Putting the experience into words feels almost impossible. The opening ceremony of the ICM Congress 2026 was powerful, emotional, and deeply unifying. From the outset, global leaders in maternity care from the UK, Bangladesh, Portugal, Switzerland, and beyond took to the stage with honesty and courage. No issue was avoided. They spoke openly about conflict, […]
Student midwives request urgent meeting with Health Secretary to discuss graduate job crisis
Members of the Royal College of Midwives’ (RCM) Student Midwife Forum have written to the newly appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, James Murray, requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the graduate job shortage. In the letter, student representatives urged the Health Secretary to make tackling the shortage of jobs for newly qualified midwives (NQMs) an […]
The opening ceremony: Dancing with the flags
The opening ceremony was nothing short of extraordinary, bringing together an inspiring community of 3,000 midwives from every corner of the globe. It was a moment that beautifully captured the unity, pride, and shared purpose that defines the midwifery profession. One of the most moving highlights of the ceremony was the flag procession. Midwifery leaders […]
Standing together: a march for one million more midwives
Day one of the 34th International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Congress in Lisbon was unforgettable. It didn’t begin in a lecture hall, but in the streets, with a powerful, collective march calling for One Million More Midwives. More than 1,000 midwives have come together—parteras, matronas, μαίες, and so many more—each voice adding to a shared […]
A day of unity, passion, and purpose in Lisbon
I want to start this blog with a heartfelt thank you to the RCM staff who made me feel so incredibly welcome at the march. From the very first moment, there was a genuine sense of warmth and belonging that set the tone for what turned out to be a truly inspiring experience. It was […]
Why the ICM Congress is important to me as a student midwife
I am delighted to have won the RCM student midwife competition to attend the 34th International Confederation of Midwives Triennial Conference 14-18th June 2026. This is a prime opportunity for a student midwife such as myself to learn about midwifery from all corners of the globe. The theme ‘one million more midwives’ feels apt with […]
A journey with midwifery!
When the word journey springs to mind most people think of suitcases, vacations, beaches, sun, food, skiing etc; in my case the two words that come to mind first are a passport and a midwifery degree. As an internationally trained midwife, who has worked in the NHS for over a decade and now teaches in […]
‘Protect our rest days’ say South Tyneside and Sunderland midwives
Midwives at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust are being reballoted for potential strike action after being instructed to work on call on their days off. Negotiations between the RCM and the Trust have been ongoing since February 2023, aimed at finding a solution to staff maternity services safely without midwives being rostered for on-call shifts on […]
Why the new RCM Birth Conversations Toolkit can help women process birth trauma
Last week saw shocking fresh revelations in the Panorama programme about poor care in Nottingham. There can be no doubt that these experiences leave women traumatised, at risk of metal health problems and with fear in subsequent pregnancies. We also heard about the substantial increase in emergency caesarean sections in recent years, and again, unexpected, […]
Student conference 2026
welcome Student conference 2026 The Student Midwife Journey Join us to connect with student midwives from across the UK, meet the RCM team, and expand your professional network. Book Now The student midwife journey is a powerful celebration of growth, resilience, and purpose. It marks a transformative path from the foundations of classroom learning to […]