Women reluctant to breastfeed in public due to attitudes of general public

A study by researchers at Swansea University and Cardiff University show women are reluctant to breastfeed outside of their home because of the attitudes of the general public. 17,700 women were examined in the study, with many saying that the attitudes of strangers is having a direct impact on their ability to breastfeed in public. […]

RCM urges all members in England and Wales to take part in pay consultation

Today the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has launched this pay consultation of its members working in the NHS in England and Wales. The College wants to gauge how midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) feel about the pay award and what action they are willing to take as result of the below inflation pay […]

The government must invest in England’s maternity services, says RCM

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling on the Government to urgently act to stop England’s maternity services from “spiralling into an ever-worsening crisis”. The call for the Government to act has come shortly after the publication of the Health and Social Care Select Committee Expert Panel’s report, of which the union provided evidence for. […]

Women’s Health Strategy in England to close gender health gaps

The Government has published the first Women’s Health Strategy in England with the aim to close gender gaps when it comes to health care. The strategy has introduced new research on women’s health issues to increase the understanding of women’s health needs so that they are diagnosed and treated effectively. It also announces £10 million […]

ANMF welcomes reinstatement of COVID-19 payment for essential workers

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of reinstating COVID-19 leave disaster payments for essential workers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made the decision to reinstate the $750 COVID-19 leave disaster payment in a meeting with the National Cabinet, following calls from ANMF and its members to re-introduce this […]

Nearly a third of women in developing countries become mothers during adolescence

Research by the United National Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency has found nearly a third of women in developing countries become mothers during adolescence. The findings show women in developing countries begin childbearing at age 19 or younger, with nearly half of first births are children or girls aged […]

George Cross awarded to midwives, maternity support workers and all NHS staff

The courage, compassion and dedication of over 1.5 million NHS workers including midwives and maternity support workers during the COVID-19 pandemic has been recognised by Her Majesty The Queen. Today NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard accepted the George Cross on behalf of all NHS staff as the health service was awarded the prestigious accolade. May […]

Water births provide ‘clear benefits’ and a positive birth experience to mother and baby

Research from Oxford Brookes University shows water births provide ‘clear benefits’ to both mother and baby, with less interventions and fewer complications compared to births out of water. The research also reported mothers having higher levels of satisfaction with their birth experience. The aim of the study was to compare healthcare interventions during labour and […]

Breastfeeding boosts brain development for babies with disadvantaged mothers

A study has found that babies born to disadvantaged mothers and were breastfed are better at tasks such as speaking, drawing and comprehension. According to analysis of data of nearly 6,000 babies, it found babies who were breastfed by poorer mothers were 8% better in tests in their cognitive ability of up to the age […]

NSPCC and MMHA calls for more maternal mental health support in Wales

The NSPCC Cymru/Wales and the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) are calling for more maternal mental health support for mothers in the country as the only maternal mental health specialist unit celebrates its one-year anniversary. Uned Gobaith (Unit of Hope) Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) near Neath, that provides specialist inpatient care to mothers who […]