Come together
The right platform No longer does a community require close physical proximity. Digital networks allow colleagues to connect and share day-to-day support. For certain groups, such as those working in remote and rural settings, this is vital. During the COVID-19 lockdown particularly, student midwives unable to attend lectures or bond with their cohort relied on […]
Voice of a mother
Living in temporary accommodation means not having somewhere safe to rest and care for your baby I’m Jenny.* I’m a mum of two and my youngest is five months old. I’ve been sofa surfing since I was five months pregnant because of domestic violence. It’s been really stressful. When you’re pregnant you want to make […]
Voice of an… international midwife
Bobby-Joe Campbell moved to the UK from Jamaica in September 2022 and works at the Countess of Chester Hospital Coming to the UK was a huge change for me. It was the first time I was separated from my kids and I was struggling to communicate with my family due to a poor phone network. It was also […]
Who slips through?
Kristina Goh, midwifery lecturer at Middlesex University, and Bobbie Simon,safeguarding specialist midwife at University College London Hospitals, question preconceived ideas of safeguarding. Safeguarding is a heavy word in maternity. The NMC defines it as protecting people from physical, emotional, sexual and financial harm and neglect. Where safeguarding teams are involved with clients, there are rightfully […]
Working hours that work for all
Fair working arrangements are key to ensuring midwives and MSWs maintain a decent work/life balance and reduce the risk of burnout, says the RCM’s director of employment relations Alice Sorby. Q: I’ve been doing what I can to cover shifts and help out as I know we’re short-staffed, but it feels like it’s happening more […]
RCM Awards 2024
The awards celebrated, rewarded and shared the astonishing work and projects from maternity teams and individuals throughout the UK Excellence in Midwifery for Leadership Kathy Murphy Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Judges said: “Kathy’s leadership has fostered a consistent, standardised approach while enabling the culture and diverse needs of women and the teams in each geographical area […]
Weight management: a gentle approach
Alex Clark, registered nutritionist from Slimming World, understands the importance of compassionate conversations for weight management Discussing weight is a challenge for all health professionals, and having this conversation with a pregnant woman requires an additional layer of sensitivity and empathy. In England alone, 29% of women have a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight category (>25kg/m2) at 15 weeks’ […]
Research in action
What do we think of when we hear the word ‘research’? Perhaps it’s labs and academic study, but the reality of research going hand in hand with midwifery practice may be surprising Donna Jones Donna is an early- career midwife at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board. She was awarded funding in the student […]
Homeless mothers: lost in the echo
Midwives Sara Cumming, Dr Andrew Symon (Mother and Infant Research Unit, University of Dundee) and Angie Ouattara (Shared Health Foundation) and programme manager Belinda Ngugi (Newham Nurture NCT) discuss supporting pregnant women experiencing homelessness In the UK, homelessness is on the rise, and caring for pregnant women experiencing this is a clinical concern for midwives. The […]
Refresher: newborn examination
This top to toe assessment of the baby for any obvious signs of abnormality or distress must have the parents present and should be explained clearly (with a translator if needed) Check general appearance Check overall symmetry, count fingers and toes, and check for webbing. Ensure that the neck is fully mobile. Measure the […]