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, […]
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 […]
Proud to Be a Student Midwife: Following a lifelong dream
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a midwife. That cliché story of ‘It is all I have ever wanted to do!’ I have always been fascinated by pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding, and the difference compassionate care can make at such a pivotal time in someone’s life. My journey has […]
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 […]
Pride, progress and practice: bridging the gap in LGBTQIA+ maternity care through education
About the Author Frankie Cooper is a Midwifery Lecturer at the University of York. After completing her training, she worked in various midwifery education roles including as a Midwifery Practice Educator and as a Practice Education Facilitator at St Mary’s Hospital. Frankie is a Professional Midwifery Advocate and has completed the Birth Trauma training programme. […]
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, […]
Making Midwifery Continuity of Carer (MCoC) Work in Practice: An Implementation Science Approach
At the 34th ICM Triennial Congress, I will be presenting one of the workstreams from my PhD research which explores one of the ongoing questions in contemporary maternity care: how are Midwifery Continuity of Carer (MCoC) models implemented in practice, and what is needed to sustain them across maternity services in the United Kingdom (UK) […]