For those of you as old as us, you will remember 1993 as a significant year for many reasons. Mr Blobby was knocked off the number one spot by Take That with their song ‘Babe’; Sonia represented the UK in the Eurovision song contest with the song ‘Better the Devil You Know’; and the UK was introduced to Caesar salad for the first time after the recipe appeared in the New York Times. Interestingly, 1993 was also the year when the first high speed train crossed English Channel, and the year that Intel introduced the world-changing Pentium 32-bit microprocessors. These latter developments have contributed vastly to the globalised world.
From a midwifery perspective, 1993 brought the much publicised Government report Changing Childbirth (Department of Health and Social Care, 1993). Although it never reached its full potential, its aim of improving women-centred care was highly valued, and it was certainly the catalyst to a number of important national and local discussions, prompting the acceptance of new midwifery models of care. Having discussed the new Maternity Transformation Programme at many midwifery meetings over the past year, it is clear that the ethos of Changing Childbirth and the drive to improve care is as strong as it ever was.
Over the past 25 years there have been a number of developments in general society that have directly or indirectly impacted on childbirth; technology being the most obvious one. We can all draw on our own experiences of technology and the impact it has had on our everyday lives, whether that be in a positive or negative way. It is interesting to note, for example, that few people owned a mobile phone 25 years ago. In fact it was only in December 1992 that the first text message was sent; now, text messaging is an integral part of NHS communications, being used for appointment reminders, follow-ups, research and health education.
One of the greatest contributors to maternity care 25 years ago was Sir Iain Chalmers. Under his leadership, the Cochrane Collaboration was founded, meaning that, for the first time, there was a central database that captured, evaluated and collated the best available evidence from randomised controlled trials into systematic reviews. The Pregnancy and Childbirth group were the first to develop this process, followed by many more specialties, such as the Heart group and the Injuries group. Today, we take it for granted that we have this evidence at our fingertips, yet the findings of Cochrane reviews inform most of our international, national and local evidence based-guidelines. It is pleasing to note that midwives are playing an ever increasing role as editors, reviewers and referees.
We believe that British Journal of Midwifery (BJM) has also played an integral part in supporting evidence-based practice, being a source of accessible information for midwives and students in the UK and around the world. In fact, the first edition emphasised the need to raise and examine the issues that affect midwives and the women in their care, through evidence-based research. It also highlighted the value of learning through collaborative efforts, and learning from others' experiences. To this end, the journal was launched as a tool to discuss and debate practice, research and educational issues. This remains one of the strengths of the journal today as it continues to embrace the views of all those involved in maternity services.
It is undeniable that the past 25 years have been challenging for the profession. Yet, despite immense pressures caused by midwifery shortages, midwives continue to put women and their babies first, usually putting their own needs aside. The population that midwives serve has changed over the past quarter of a century, with a larger proportion of women who are morbidly obese, a higher number of women over 40 having babies, and more women for whom English is not their first language. Yet midwives remain the same: caring, compassionate and dedicated. As we celebrate 25 years of BJM, we also celebrate the enormous everyday achievements made by midwives across the globe who work tirelessly, often in difficult circumstances.
As editors, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to BJM, from those who have written or reviewed, to those who have spoken at annual conferences, and those who have contributed to educational study days. We would also like to thank the readers, who provide us with valid feedback that enables the journal to remain timely and relevant. Finally we would like to thank the Editorial Board who assist in informing the journal's strategy through their unique expertise.
Nelson Mandela once said that ‘education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world’. This quote is as true today as it was in 1993, and will remain true in another 25 years. We hope that BJM will continue to educate its readers for further 25 years and beyond.