fingers and toes
I remember the sonographer being so kind, reassuring us that our baby was moving and growing perfectly – the only tiny thing was she couldn’t quite see his big toes. “Baby’s probably just curling them up,” she told us. Even at birth, the midwives and health visitors did notice his ‘funny toes’. They were short […]
have you seen the toes?
Awareness FOP Awareness Day is on 23 April, but you may not have heard of it. It’s a rare genetic condition that affects just one in a million people. Over time the body turns soft tissue and ligament into bone – it is degenerative and there is no available treatment or cure. Identification FOP is characterised by […]
“I believe that promoting staff wellbeing is crucial to my role”
In 2025, the first ever RCM branch awards were announced at the activists’ conference. The six categories and winners were: Branch workplace campaign: South Tyneside and Sunderland branch (with St George’s branch highly commended) Branch event: Taunton and Somerset branch Learning campaign or event: Cardiff and Vale branch Health and safety campaign or event: University […]
connecting the dots
It seems the roles of lead midwives for education (LME) and consultant midwives aren’t well understood in some trusts, boards and higher education institutions (HEIs). RCM’s Career Pathway sets out what the purpose of the roles is, what is expected of those in the role and why strong leadership is key. It acts as a […]
how I became an activist
Nana Yaa KarikariAsante Kingston University “I joined the SMF because I recognised the importance of consistent representation and support for midwifery students, especially given the demands and vulnerability that can come with the course. I have always been passionate about advocating for others and so the opportunity to do this on a wider scale was […]
you were held
Over several years of working together, we observed that mothers whose babies are removed from them due to child protection issues or complex safeguarding, whether temporary or permanent, experienced a profound grieving process. This was comparable to the grief of those whose babies had died. However, this grief was largely unrecognised and unsupported, both professionally […]
Seeking support
For many of you it will be unsurprising to learn that a research project into stress in midwifery found that the things that caused most stress were staff shortages, insufficient breaks and work overload such as busy shifts. In addition, the persistent pace of change in ways of working take a mental toll – especially so if […]
just what’s needed
Quality improvement (QI) has become a familiar term within maternity services. At its heart, QI is about what we do for our service users and colleagues by working towards positive changes to enhance care and work efficiency. When I was first approached to undertake a QI project it seemed like a daunting task. However, by reframing […]
going above and beyond
In April 2022, I joined the Poppy Team at Royal Berkshire Hospital, which looks after vulnerable women. It was a new role, so I had to make it what it is today. For example, I implemented a one-to-one parenting session ahead of the birth and go out to the women’s houses – the midwives identify […]
“There is a need for people who are willing to undertake the less-rewarded work of quality assurance in education”
As a student nurse in the 1980s, Suzanne had a four-week maternity placement and that, as they say, changed everything. “It really made me see how different midwifery was to nursing. I thought there was something I could bring into midwifery from what I’d learned as a nurse.” She did her Advanced Diploma in Midwifery in […]