midwifery Archives - Maternity & Midwifery Forum

Why do 50% of pregnant mothers lapse from their iron supplements treatment?

Debra16 September 2021

During pregnancy, there is an increased need for iron as blood volume increases by 40-50%. During the second and third trimesters, dietary iron requirements can increase to as much as 30mg per day. High dose oral iron is the most recommended form of iron for pregnant women, however 8/10 suffer from the side effects of oral iron. This leads......

Spread a little nappiness

Debra16 September 202117 September 2021

In the news discussion continues to take place on climate change and how we can avoid the use of single use plastics. Disposable nappies have come into the spotlight. Ashley Artusa-Barrell, founder of My Son’s Planet, explores the issues. Disposable nappies are big business. The disposable nappy industry is......

Abortion laws and the United States: why it matters

Debra16 September 202116 September 2021

The circumstances around abortion in the United States has hit the news this month as September 1st saw the introduction of a new law in Texas state. The law outlaws abortions for anyone with a fetus over 6 weeks gestation where cardiac activity of the fetus has been detected, unless......

Love That Birth Physiology

Debra3 September 202113 September 2021

Gaining knowledge of the anatomy and physiology around birth is an important aspect of a student midwife’s programme of education. It is also important to understand how the actions midwives take is related to the physiology. Molly is creator and teacher of the “Biomechanics for birth” courses, as well as......

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month

Debra3 September 20213 September 2021

September is international FASD Awareness month, with FASD Day falling on 9th September, signifying the 9 months of pregnancy. This FASD Month, we are calling on people to ‘Think Differently’ about FASD. “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a lifelong disability that affects the brain and body of people......

Maternity & Midwifery Directory Launch

Debra3 September 2021

For maternity and midwifery services in the UK the pandemic seemed to make time stand still, if not go backwards. Home births cancelled, water births restricted, limited visitors (fathers were never allowed in when I was born). But time did not stand still. Maternity and midwifery is going through its......

A Holding Time Project call to arms: a collective portrait of breastfeeding

Debra31 August 20211 September 2021

During National Breastfeeding week at the start of August Improving Me, the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Women and Children’s Partnership launched the Holding Time Project. This involved a call for participants in an inter-disciplinary, multi-channel art project, developed by visual artist Lisa Creagh on behalf of the partnership. The focus......

How do NHS midwives facilitate women’s alternative physiological births?

Debra31 August 202131 August 2021

In the print and social media heated debates have often taken place over interventions during birth. Some women and birthing people only want medicalised care where there is another group who want to choose less intervention birth. In this talk Claire discusses her PhD research, during which she explored how......

It’s time to get equality in vaccinations

Debra31 August 202131 August 2021

As the summer months progress here in the UK, there continue to be reverberations in the press and on social media about COVID-19 and vaccines. Writing today, rates continue to rise, with another 230,800 testing positive within the last week. The vaccination rate for the adult population has 88% for......

Centred birth, hypnobirthing classes and preparing for birth during COVID

Debra24 August 202124 August 2021

It has been challenging for pregnant women and birthing people over the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we know many resources were cut, including face-to-face preparation for birth groups. In this talk, “A lot more anxious and a lot more lonely” vs “more empowered: centred birth hypnobirthing classes and......

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