Cancer in pregnancy and beyond
Cancer is pregnancy remains uncommon, however, changes in lifestyle and a maturing maternity population is likely to increase the incidence. Receiving a diagnosis of cancer in pregnancy or soon after birth is difficult and challenging for the woman and her family. It is important that maternity practitioners are aware of some of the issues and […]
Newborn bloodspot screening
The information about this screening is complicated, given the number of disorders screened for and the range of potential results. As well as identifying those affected by these conditions, the screening also identifies those who are not affected but are carriers of the disorders and those who may have genetic alterations of unclear significance. Midwives […]
Health inequalities: the power of maternity care
This i-learn module will introduce ‘health inequalities’, before looking more closely at the role of midwives and maternity support workers and the power of maternity care to reduce health inequalities. By the end of this module you will: understand the relationship between people’s socioeconomic circumstances and their health understand how structural inequalities lead to health […]
Promoting dignity, respectful and compassionate care in midwifery practice
Compassion in practice, previously known as the ‘6Cs’, was an NHS campaign to raise awareness of dignity in care across the service. Though the values of compassionate care, dignity and respect are expected to be fundamental, there have been recent examples where this has not been the case. The inquiry into care at the Mid […]
Coroner’s court
This brief module has been designed at the request of some members for advice and support in preparation for attendance to the coroner’s court. This module will help you to gain a better understanding of procedures in coroner’s courts and cases, which cases may be referred and what role midwives and maternity staff may have. […]
Recognising the deteriorating postpartum woman
UK reports into maternal mortality have repeatedly noted that failure to recognise deterioration is a key factor in maternal death (Knight et al 2019). This module is aimed at maternity support workers but will be useful for students and others interested in developing their knowledge and skills to recognise a woman that may be deteriorating […]
Implementing midwifery continuity of carer
Midwifery continuity of carer is a key and central recommendation of current maternity policies in England, Wales and Scotland. Since the publication of Better Births in 2016 and Best Start in 2017, midwifery leaders in both England and Scotland have been working to test and implement midwifery continuity of carer models at scale. As the […]
Supporting parents through the registration of stillbirth
Registration of stillbirth can be a difficult experience for women/parents. Parental expectations of this process may not match the formal requirements. Midwives and support workers have an important role to play in preparing parents for the stillbirth registration process. If a baby dies before or during birth following 24 weeks of pregnancy it is a […]
Group B strep
On average in the UK, two babies a day develop group B Strep infection, one baby a week dies and one survives with long-term health issues. The UK introduced a prevention strategy against early-onset group B Strep infection (babies 0-6 days) in 2003 but this has not prevented the rate rising by 19% between 2000/1 […]
Peri-partum pelvic floor muscle exercises (2020)
This module has been developed to support midwives in delivering pelvic floor muscle exercises more confidently to women during pregnancy and after childbirth. It was one of the key recommendations in the position statement agreed by the RCM and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). The module has been completely revised and updated and includes new […]