Closing disparities in maternity care through doula certification in Connecticut, US
The US state of Connecticut is creating a certification programme to make doula care more accessible in a bid to close the gap in maternity care disparities for Black women. In Connecticut, Black women are 2.6 times more likely to die within six weeks following childbirth than White women. A person with state doula certification […]
Midwives welcome increased parental leave payments in New Zealand
Midwives in New Zealand have welcomed the $40 a week increase in parental leave payments announced by the government. The increase will come into effect from 1 July 2022, which means the weekly rate of paid maximum parental leave will be increasing to $661.12, a 6.3% increase before tax. Parents who are self-employed will also […]
MIDIRS Midwifery Digest Hot Topic: Why are some voices not heard? Exploring how maternity care can be improved for women with limited English
Abstract There is a robust body of evidence, accumulated over the decades, which shows that limited English proficiency is a key factor associated with poorer maternal and neonatal outcomes. Our work as midwives and researchers has led us to believe that this is a complex, multi-dimensional issue, which we will explore in this article. We […]
Four out of five NHS staff say they would quit their jobs over pay
A poll has shown four out of five NHS Staff (80%) would quit their job over pay, but 79% said they would stay if their pay increased to tackle inflation. The results of the poll have come shortly before NHS workers join TUC’s cost of living rally in London on Saturday (18 June). Over 2,000 […]
Research shows postnatal services are not engaging with fathers
Research conducted by the Fatherhood Institute, funded by Nuffield Foundation, shows postnatal services are not engaging with fathers during the first year postnatal. The research systematically reviewed around 800 studies and literature, including studies based on the UK’s large-scale birth cohort studies, on fathers and fatherhood in the first year following birth. It found that […]
Re:Birth: Needs and wishes of women should be at the heart of maternity conversations
The Re:Birth project report on shared language has been published by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) outlining guidance to support midwives, allied health professionals and women to develop shared language for pregnancy, labour and birth. The Re:Birth project, which began in 2020, saw thousands of people provide their insight into language used during pregnancy, […]
Pregnant women can now register pregnancy and access care notes in Blackpool
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the latest trusts to rollout BadgerNet where pregnant women can register their pregnancy and access their care notes digitally. At the beginning of June 2022, BadgerNet was launched at the Trust which enables pregnant women to register their pregnancy and get access to their records, removing […]
Midwives must have access to bereavement training during work hours, says Sands
The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death (Sands) charity is calling for bereavement training for midwives to be made available during work hours. The call for this training to be made available to midwives during work hours comes after trusts and boards reported that just 33% of staff were able to access training for bereavement while they […]
MIDIRS Midwifery Digest June 2022 – table of contents
Review launched to assess the readiness of midwives using digital technology
A review has been launched to ensure midwives are ready and equipped with the digital skills and technologies to deliver care to women and families. The Phillips Ives Nursing and Midwifery Review will ensure workforces are equipped with the appropriate digital technology and provide evidence of what challenges may be presented in the future. The […]