Framework for success – career planning
Midwives, MSWs and senior managers are seeking out opportunities to enrich their careers and add value to the profession – as well as helping others to do the same. So often in maternity we focus on the challenges – feeling tired, overstretched and undervalued has left many of us losing sight of why we chose to […]
Voice of a mother – waiting game
Things that expectant parents take for granted are out of reach for those seeking asylum and living in temporary accommodation My husband and I are seeking asylum in the UK; we have three children, including a three-month-old baby. We have been living in hotel accommodation for over two years waiting for our claim to be […]
Communication corner – Gentle approach
Alex Clark, a registered nutritionist from Slimming World, continues the second part of compassionate conversations around weight management Talking about a sensitive topic such as weight can leave health professionals feeling anxious about broaching it – it can feel easier to avoid the subject altogether, especially when you’re supporting someone during pregnancy. However, having the […]
Employment advice – pay
Fair pay and terms and conditions continue to be the RCM’s rallying cry. Director of employment relations Alice Sorby and national officer Emma Currer discuss what’s next Q: It seemed that the 2024-25 pay awards showed the start of change for midwives. What are we expecting the news to be this year? A: The pay rise for […]
Voice of a… student midwife
Second-year student and author Jasmine Fields believes we need to communicate better about our mental health, especially during the perinatal period Articulating my perinatal mental health experience isn’t easy – comparing it to a rollercoaster journey is probably the most accurate. During my pregnancy, I lost a family member to suicide. While I was heartbroken […]
Voice of a… midwifery clinical research manager
Sarah-Jayne Ambler at Medway NHS Foundation Trust was involved in a pilot of resources to improve maternity care for parents with learning disabilities I undertook a feasibility study for The Together Project, led by Dr Anna Cox at the University of Surrey. Through engagement with parents with learning disabilities, Anna had developed educational materials and tools for […]
Caring for You – Parklife
Spending time in nature and being physically active has been shown to improve mental wellbeing. Now that spring is finally here, it’s the perfect time, says the RCM’s Kerry Harkin According to NHS Charities Together “among the top health benefits people reported from getting outdoors were improved mood (75%), immune benefits (36%), sleeping more soundly (28%) […]
Talking point – A different view
Neurodivergence encompasses a diverse, unique range of strengths and challenges among individuals, which defies any notion of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyscalculia and dyslexia are just a few examples This highlights the importance of recognising each person’s individual needs and capabilities, rather than assuming uniformity in how people think, learn and […]
Tailor made
Over the years, maternity services have rightly placed more emphasis on an ability to serve a diverse community in its entirety. That means understanding the needs of the local community, says Sumayyah Bilal Nationally published data, from sources such as MBRRACE-UK (Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK), has […]
Teaching tools for neurodivergence
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