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...

A review of the law surrounding female genital mutilation protection orders

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure where the female genitalia are altered, injured or removed (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020) without medical indication (Crown Prosecution Service...

Emotional intelligence and coping with stressful conditions: the case of Iranian midwives

Emotional quotient (EQ) – or emotional intelligence – means controlling the internal emotions to reduce stress and to have a positive relationship and be able to communicate with other people (Segal...

Lactation after loss: supporting women's decision-making following perinatal death

Perinatal death affects 54 out of every 1 000 births in the UK (Draper et al, 2019) and is classically defined as a stillbirth (where a baby is born in the UK with no signs of life after 24 completed...

Exercise during pregnancy

Exercise during pregnancy is safe for women and their unborn babies It is essential that midwives advise women of the UK chief medical officer's ([CMO], 2019) physical activity guidance and support...

The Poole approach to a smoke-free pregnancy

Targeted and personal support for pregnant women to stop smoking as early as possible in pregnancy is an important intervention to optimise the health of both unborn babies and their mothers, and for...

Importance of vitamin D during the antenatal period for maternal well-being

The best source of vitamin D is exposure to natural sunlight and 90% of vitamin D is derived from sunlight with 10% derived from food and plant sources (Paxton et al, 2013; Cannell, 2019)...

‘Please treat me like a person’—respectful care during adolescent childbirth

The risk factors, health implications and socio-economic repercussions of adolescent pregnancy and early childbearing is widely covered in literature The World Health Organization ([WHO], 2018a) and...

Against the grain: midwives' experiences of facilitating home birth outside of guidelines

Historically, childbearing women were generally young and healthy, yet societal changes and fertility treatments have meant women who are older or with pre-existing conditions becoming pregnant have...