Royal College of Midwives backs Parliamentary Bill pushing for better perinatal mental health care
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed a new Bill introduced to Parliament on Wednesday (22 October) by Laura Kyrke-Smith MP, which aims to make high-quality perinatal mental health assessments a routine part of antenatal care for all women in England. The Perinatal Mental Health Assessments Bill, known as Sophie’s Law, would ensure that […]
Why supporting women’s choices is key to protecting mental wellbeing
Supporting women’s choices in maternity care isn’t just about autonomy – it’s central to protecting mental wellbeing and ensuring safer outcomes for women and babies. In this blog, Lia Brigante, Professional Policy Advisor at the RCM, explains how personalised care, informed choice and the RCM’s Perinatal Mental Health Roadmap are helping midwives deliver care that […]
RCM welcomes parliamentary debate on baby loss and urges action to prevent future tragedies
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed Monday’s parliamentary debate on baby loss, taking place during Baby Loss Awareness Week, as an opportunity to reflect on the urgent improvements needed to maternity care. Forty cross-party MPs spoke movingly in the three-hour debate, bringing to light the devastating impact of baby loss on families. Secretary […]
RCM Cymru welcomes baby loss certificates in Wales
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Cymru has welcomed the introduction of baby loss certificates for parents in Wales who have experienced the loss of a baby before 24 weeks. Until now, the certificates have only been available to parents in England, where they were introduced last year. The scheme, which is voluntary, allows parents […]
‘My baby’s smile pulled me back and reminded me I needed to keep going’
When it comes to perinatal mental health, lived experience can be one of the most powerful tools for change. For many midwives, the journey into supporting others begins with their own experience of struggling in silence. As the Royal College of Midwives launches its Perinatal Mental Health Roadmap calling for fair, consistent care across the […]
Royal College of Midwives warns postcode lottery is putting mothers’ mental health at risk
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling for urgent action to end the postcode lottery in perinatal mental health care across the UK. On World Mental Health Day (10 October), the RCM is launching a new roadmap calling for improvements to perinatal mental health care, as it emerges that: One in four women experiences […]
Stress and Burnout in Midwifery: Search Pack of the Month, October
To mark World Mental Health Day 2025, MIDIRS Search Pack of the Month for October is M10: Stress and Burnout in Midwifery. Friday 10 October is World Mental Health Day, a reminder not only of the vital role midwives and maternity professionals play in supporting parents’ mental wellbeing, but the importance of looking after their […]
Urgent action needed to address inequalities in maternity outcomes for Black women says RCM
“Shocking inequalities in outcomes for Black women in maternity care must be addressed urgently”, says the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) following an inquiry and publication of a report by The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee on Black Maternal Health. The report found systemic failings in leadership, training and ethnicity data collection […]
RCM calls for investment in maternity services as new report highlights shifting birth trends
A new report published today (11 September) by the National Maternity and Perinatal Audit (NMPA) has highlighted significant changes in how women are giving birth in Great Britain – with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) warning that maternity services must be properly resourced to ensure safe, high-quality care for all. The NMPA’s State of […]
Celebrating ambulance service midwives on National Emergency Services Day: ‘The clinicians really appreciate our midwifery knowledge and skills’
On National Emergency Services Day (9 September), we celebrate the incredible people who keep the public safe in times of crisis. Among them are midwives like Lisa Smith and Aimee Humphreys, who have taken their skills into the ambulance service – supporting paramedics, ambulance clinicians, women and babies in the most urgent and unpredictable moments. […]