What does COVID-19 mean for new mothers in prison?

In September 2019, a baby died when a mother gave birth overnight in her prison cell-alone Multiple investigations were launched and coverage of the tragedy revealed a raft of other deeply concerning...

Acceptability of newborn pulse oximetry screening

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the general medical term for heart defects that are present from birth CHD accounts for up to 10% of neonatal deaths and up to 40% of all infant deaths when left...

Feasibility of use of the anxiety thermometer in antenatal services

In many countries, pregnant women experience an increasing range of testing and monitoring procedures Early identification of risk factors can facilitate appropriate triaging to specialist clinics...

Quality of family planning services delivered at health posts and associated factors

Family planning refers to utilisation of various types of fertility control methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies It helps individuals or couples to have children to assure the well-being of...

Subsequent childbirth after previous traumatic birth experience: women's choices and evaluations

A sizable minority (10%–20%) of women describe their childbirth as a traumatic experience and have long-lasting negative memories of it Still, many women choose to give birth again Previous research...

Helping student midwives become safe practitioners: effective teaching of cardiotocograph interpretation

The ‘Saving babies’ lives' care bundle identified effective fetal monitoring during labour as one of four key areas of care to reduce the number of stillbirths and early neonatal deaths in the UK...

Virtual training for midwives during a pandemic

When a baby dies, it is a tragedy at any time but during the COVID-19 pandemic, bereaved families and the professionals supporting them have been faced with additional and often distressing challenges...

Delivering next generations

The COVID-19 pandemic presents many challenges for political leaders and healthcare systems There is strong evidence to suggest that during crisis, women are most affected Experts in the field of...

Viability of newborns

Should we have on-call philosophers in midwifery? Philippa Foot (1920–2010) suggested that just as we summon a plumber to fix a leaking tap, a ‘jobbing philosopher’ could be called when ethical issues...

Pregnant BAME women at higher risk

The value of clinical mnemonics

In the final article of my series exploring neonatal topics relevant to the midwife, I'd like to explore the newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE), and share some aids I have created to...

Extra support for expectant parents

The PANDAS Foundation provides help, support and advice to parents with per inatal mental illness which affects up to 20% of new and expectant mums We are also here to inform and guide family members,...

Supporting midwives on the frontline

From pressuring government bodies for adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to piloting programmes to promote better mental health, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has been at the...

What midwives think of the continuity of carer model

Maternity care is a subject often featuring in the news and, in recent years, this has been for the wrong reasons One example that springs to mind is the Morecambe Bay investigation published in 2015...

Latch-related nipple pain in breastfeeding women: the impact on breastfeeding outcomes

Breastfeeding rates in the UK remain some of the lowest in the world The World Health Organization (2020) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life, followed by...