The Maternity & Midwifery Hour

This episode focusses on Research in midwifery – a different view. Research methodologies are argued to be Eurocentric and do not cater for non-Western cultures. There should be respect for all knowledge regardless of the source and all knowledge should be valued. Due to the diversity of women and people giving birth in the UK, their views matter but the chosen research methodology may restrict their participation in studies. Consideration of non-Eurocentric research methods are therefore important, as individuals may be uncomfortable expressing their experiences through Western approaches. An exploration of alternative research methods that can capture the experiences of mothers are important ensuring their needs are reflected in maternity guidelines and policies. These alternative methods may therefore include a more holistic, reflective and creative approach in line with a midwifery paradigm.

Hosted by:

Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery

Contribution from:

Dr Sarah Esegbona-Adeigbe, Associate Professor Midwifery, London South Bank University

Dr Jenny Hall, Editor, Maternity and Midwifery Forum

Supported by MATFLIX: ⁠https://matflix.co.uk⁠

Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: ⁠https://mmf.eventbrite.com⁠

Watch the live stream: ⁠https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live

This episode focusses on being Positive about Down syndrome: Highlighting DSUK’s work in Maternity Care.

When Nicola’s son Tom was born, she struggled enormously with his diagnosis of Down syndrome, aware that had she discovered whilst pregnant, she would certainly have considered termination. After emotionally rejecting Tom, she has since gone on to realise how ignorant she was and how negatively influenced by medical language and assumptions. Nicola always speaks with honesty and integrity and will discuss the importance of medical practitioners considering their attitudes towards and knowledge of those with a disability.

She will discuss how PADS works with healthcare professionals to improve maternity care by providing training and resources for midwives, sonographers, and other healthcare staff. A key focus will be on the importance of language, sensitivity, and best practices when delivering a Down syndrome diagnosis. Through powerful stories and practical examples, Nicola will highlight the impact of compassionate support, shedding light on how accurate and balanced information can transform the experiences of parents at a vulnerable time. Her session aims to enhance understanding of Down syndrome, challenge misconceptions, and foster a more inclusive approach to maternity care, empowering healthcare professionals to engage with families in a supportive and informed way.

Hosted by:

Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery

Contribution from:

Nicola Enoch, founder of Down Syndrome UK (DSUK)

Simone Prins, Parent

Supported by MATFLIX: ⁠https://matflix.co.uk⁠

Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: ⁠https://mmf.eventbrite.com⁠

Watch the live stream: ⁠https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live

This episode focusses on the needs of neuro divergent pregnant and childbearing women and student and qualified midwives.

We are joined by Nicolette Porter who will discuss supporting autistic women and birthing people in the perinatal period highlighting the unique challenges they face and the need for more inclusive, informed support. Nicolette will also discuss a current research project, recruiting midwives to explore their knowledge, confidence and attitudes in caring for autistic individuals, with the ultimate goal of improving maternity care experiences for this group.

Emilie Edwards, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery at Middlesex University, will then explore neurodivergence in midwifery and creating inclusive education and workspaces.

Hosted by:

Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery

Contribution from:

Nicolette Porter, Midwife and Postgraduate Student at UCL

Emilie Edwards, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, Middlesex University

Supported by MATFLIX: ⁠https://matflix.co.uk⁠

Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: ⁠https://mmf.eventbrite.com⁠

Watch the live stream: ⁠https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live

Midwifery students bring a special spark, an energy and enthusiasm that fuels their journey and enriches the profession. The Positive Midwifery Project brings together students, practice supervisors, educators, and regulators to explore how best to keep that passion alive, especially through practice learning and into preceptorship. Juliet Rayment and Mira Waligora will introduce the project, share key insights from students and their supporters, and outline future plans.

Hosted by:

Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery

Contribution from:

Mira Waligora, Student Midwife, the University of The West of Scotland

Dr Juliet Rayment, Humanising Care Fellow, The Point of Care Foundation

Supported by MATFLIX:⁠https://matflix.co.uk⁠

Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival:⁠https://mmf.eventbrite.com⁠

Watch the live stream:⁠https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live

In this episode of Maternity & Midwifery Hour Dr Myrto Chronaki, an Independent Researcher, will present her doctoral work exploring the perinatal experiences of women with disabilities in Greece, regarding birth care and the spaces of birth in the hospital and at home. This includes an investigation into the possible benefits of the birth centre environment and the midwifery model of care and emotional support by doulas offered there. She will be joined by Angelina Ankomah, who will share her work supporting women and families with learning disabilities in the UK.

Hosted by:

Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery

Contribution from:

Dr Myrto Chronaki, Architect, PhD. post-doc, Independent Researcher, Breastfeeding Counsellor

Angelina Ankomah, Diabetes Lead Midwife, West Herts NHS Trust

Supported by MATFLIX: ⁠https://matflix.co.uk⁠

Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: ⁠https://mmf.eventbrite.com⁠

Watch the live stream: ⁠https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live

This session will focus on the impact of homelessness in pregnancy and the early years. Two clinical researchers will present their recent research into pregnancy and homelessness, and families with under 5's in temporary accommodation. Two keyworkers from key third sector organisations supporting homeless families in the UK will also share their practical experiences of supporting pregnant women and famlies experiencing homelessness.

Hosted by:

Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery

Contribution from:

Pregnancy and homelessness focus: health impacts, barriers to care and key needs from midwifery care

Sara Cumming, Midwife Researcher, University of Dundee

Health impacts for under 5's and key needs/challenges

Monica Lakhanpaul, Professor of Integrated Community Child Health Honorary Consultant Paediatrician, Whittington NHS Trust

Practical support for families experiencing homelessness, lived experience stories, how SHF supporting

Angie Ouattara, Maternal Health Lead, Shared Health Foundation

How Newham Nurture, a community partnership perinatal programme co-produced with experts by experience, is supporting migrant and marginalised women during the transition to parenthood with its innovative and inclusive approach

Belinda Ngugi, Perinatal Programme Manager, NCT Charity

Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: ⁠https://mmf.eventbrite.com⁠

Watch the live stream: ⁠https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live

Series 15 - Episode 2: Enabling safe quality midwifery services and care in Northern Ireland

The Independent Report on Enabling Safe, Quality Midwifery Services and Care in Northern Ireland Report included a careful examination of midwifery and maternity care following concerns about safety of care. It is the first report to take a whole-system perspective and to draw on evidence to inform the recommendations. The report identified key conditions for safe, quality midwifery care, and included recommendations for transforming maternal and newborn care and services. The recommendations have been accepted by the NI government and implementation work is getting under way.

Hosted by:

Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery

Contribution from:

Professor Mary Renfrew OBE, Professor Emerita, University of Dundee; Author, Independent Report on Enabling Safe, Quality Midwifery Services and Care in Northern Ireland

Supported by MATFLIX: ⁠https://matflix.co.uk⁠

Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: ⁠https://mmf.eventbrite.com⁠

Watch the live stream: ⁠https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live

In the first episode of series 15 of Maternity & Midwifery Hour we are joined by Ann Remmers and Laura Lewinson who will share how Black Maternity Matters, an anti-racist scheme for perinatal teams and senior leaders, is addressing the racist perceptions and behaviours that adversely impact on health outcomes. Inspired by Black Mothers Matter’s vision that one day Black mothers will no longer be disproportionately in danger during pregnancy and the first year after birth.

Hosted by:

Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery

Contribution from:

Ann Remmers, Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Lead midwife, Innovation West of England

Laura Lewinson, Diversity and Inclusion Lead midwife, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW)

Biographies

Ann Remmers

Ann is the Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Lead midwife for Health Innovation West of England, specifically focussing on the delivery of the regional and national Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme (MatNeoSIP). Ann is a midwife and previously worked for a number of years in NHS Trusts in Bristol as a Clinical Director and Director of Midwifery, and as Clinical Director for the South West Maternity Clinical Network. Recently Ann has been the midwifery lead for PERIPrem (Perinatal Excellence to Reduce Injury in Premature Birth) and is currently the midwifery lead for Black Maternity Matters, a collaboration supporting perinatal health care staff to reduce the inequitable maternity outcomes faced by Black mothers.

Laura Lewinson

Laura is a hospital based Diversity and Inclusion Lead midwife with over 10 years’ experience caring for women, birthing people and families.

Laura joined the Black Maternity Matters team as a maternity champion for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) cohort 1 in 2022; excited at the opportunity to enact measurable changes to improve outcomes and experiences for Black women. The programme has been transformational. Having the opportunity to sit amongst peers and reflect on the ways in which each as an individual, and as part of a system perpetuate harmful practices which disproportionately impact Black women, birthing people and their babies has been a unique privilege to be part of.

Since completing the BMM programme, Laura has become the Diversity and Inclusion lead midwife for University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW). This involves collaborating with the multi-disciplinary team and external stakeholders to deliver training and Quality Improvement projects for maternity staff with a focus on improving outcomes and experiences for racially minoritised people accessing maternity care. Laura’s main passion is health equity, ensuring that every family has the opportunity to plan for a successful future during their pregnancy journey.

Supported by MATFLIX: ⁠⁠⁠https://matflix.co.uk⁠⁠⁠

Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: ⁠⁠⁠https://mmf.eventbrite.com⁠⁠⁠

Watch the live stream: ⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live

This week we are focusing on aspects of midwifery education and lecturers engaged in innovation and research.

We are joined by Susan Hughes who is sharing work on the views of midwifery lecturers on homebirth.

Emily Bee joins Susan, to talk about holistic and dynamic teaching and learning space, which has been developed at Bradford University to provide midwifery education driven by a simulation pedagogy.

Hosted by:

Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery

Contribution from:

Susan Hughes, Consultant Midwife, Gloucestershire Hospitals Trust/ Worcester University

Emily Bee, Assistant Professor of Midwifery, University of Bradford

Supported by MATFLIX: ⁠⁠https://matflix.co.uk⁠⁠

Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: ⁠⁠https://mmf.eventbrite.com⁠⁠

Watch the live stream: ⁠⁠https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live

This session led by Professor Sebnem Susam-Saraeva and ' Dr Jenny Patterson follows an interactive workshop at the Scotland Maternity and Midwifery Festival this November.

Sebnem and Jenny will present a brief summary of a 2022 project on 'Translating Informed Consent in Scottish Maternity Services' , and will then explore some of the themes and discussions that have arisen from the series of workshops over the last 2-3 years.

The hour will finish with a discussion of an ongoing project 'The beginnings: Factoring in interpreting at antenatal care and midwifery education'.

Hosted by:

Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert; Host and Curator, Maternity and Midwifery Festivals/Midwifery Hour, Editor, Mayes Midwifery

Contribution from:

Professor Şebnem Susam-Saraeva, Personal Chair of Translation Studies, University of Edinburgh

Dr Jenny Patterson, Lecturer in Midwifery, Edinburgh Napier University

Supported by MATFLIX: ⁠https://matflix.co.uk⁠

Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: ⁠https://mmf.eventbrite.com⁠

Watch the live stream: ⁠https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live