In the current economic climate when families are struggling with everything from employment to food it is incredibly heart warming to know that a dedicated band of midwives are coming to the end of the beginning of their long standing battle to improve the UK maternity services. Campaigning for normal birth The Independent Midwifery Association (IMA) has ...
Category Archives: Goverment Policy
The Birthplace cohort study: health outcomes by planned place of birth
What is the Birthplace cohort study? This 2 year English study (April 2008-2010) looked at 64538 low-risk births involving 90% of all midwifery units in England to consider the safety, cost-effectiveness and availability of current maternity services in the 4 available locations: hospital obstetric units (OU), alongside midwifery units (AMU), freestanding midwifery units (FMU) (collectively ...
Diary of a free range pregnancy: another way to monitor health
The reason pregnant women regularly see their midwives is to regularly monitor their health. In theory they are meant to be building up a relationship of trust and understanding so that the midwife learns what is 'normal' for that woman and the woman gets to know her midwife and trust her so that at the ...
NHS modernisation listening exercise
The Department of Health (DH) has instigated a consultation exercise to find out what people think about their proposed NHS reforms. An online form provided the basis for feedback and Maternal Link took the opportunity to share 7 years of experience talking to everyone from Trust managers to individual midwives around the UK, summarised under ...
One Born Every Minute: The complication of Obesity
The RCOG now describes obesity as the most common complication and risk factor in obstetric practice. Carole shows all the fears and lack of preparation expected from watching the other women ‘cared for’ by this hospital.
One born every minute: Where is the evidence based practice?
Women are our guests In the first episode of this series a couple of the older midwives said that they had been trained to consider every woman a special guest in their home and to accord them the utmost kindness and respect. Very nice. However, like a home that was done up 30 years ...
One born every minute: The little ward of horrors
The beginning of Series 2 Described as the most gripping thing on TV by the Guardian this programme is definitely eye opening. Sadly for some of us it may not be as the victims, sorry parents, perceive it. Whilst portraying a maternity unit of dedicated, kind and caring midwives several of whom have clearly spent ...
Induction of Labour
Induction: help or hindrance? Like most medical tools, inductions have a valuable role to play when there is a medical need. Like most medical tools they are used too often, too quickly and with minimal regard for the complications they pose to mother and child. The NICE guidelines, on which this post is based, state in the ...
Want a second opinion? Get it yourself!
Seek and ye shall find Occasions may arise when you want to do your own research into maternity issues. You may want to expand your knowledge or challenge someone elses' view. In the past few years there has been an explosion in the use of the phrase 'evidence-based care' which means that all care is (should ...
Why pay for HypnoBirthing? The true cost of healthcare
The cost of healthcare In Britain we see healthcare as something that should be free. We enjoy access to world class medics and technology simply by walking off the street into the correct building. And we defend our right to this service vociferously. But of course, nothing is actually free in life.Healthcare is only ...