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Midwifery news

Read midwifery news reports prepared by the Midwives magazine team.

A full list of news articles about the Royal College of Midwives can be viewed using the link in the panel on the right.

Open access: Latest news is available to all site visitors

RCM in the news

Midwives have frontline role to tackle violence against women 11-02-03

11 March 2010
Midwives comment on Prime Minister's Commission into Nursing and Midwifery 02-03-10

02 March 2010

>Read more news about the RCM

News feed

Raising political awarenessMore than 25 RCM stewards from London attended a stewards study day yesterday to hear what the main political parties and lobby groups had to say about the future of the NHS.
Maternity matters and the future of maternity servicesA recent survey of primary care Trusts (PCTs) in England showed positive developments in meeting Maternity matters targets, delegates were told at a government seminar.
Concerns over unlawful cord blood collectionConcerns that umbilical cord blood is not being collected properly have been raised by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA)
An alternative gift for Mother’s DayThe charity Child In Need in India (CINI) is offering people the chance to buy a Mother’s Day gift of sponsoring a mother in India.
Marking International Women’s DayToday on International Women’s Day marks the official launch of a week-long series of events that highlight the need to improve maternal and child health worldwide.
Mental health tackled at St David’s day conferenceMore than 150 midwives attended the RCM UK Board for Wales’ St David’s day conference, which addressed the issues surrounding perinatal mental health.
Impact of climate change on women and childrenA conference to discuss the impact climate change has on women and children is being held at the RCOG offices in London on 12 March.
Rally to reclaim birthCampaigners are marching to Whitehall this Sunday, 7 March calling for improvements to the UK’s maternity services.
Final report on the future of midwifery and nursingA renewed call for a named midwife for every woman has been made by the Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery.
IVF twins face greater risk of complicationsNon-identical twins conceived through IVF face an increased risk of neonatal complications, compared to spontaneously conceived dizygotic twins.
Health in Pregnancy Grant successMidwives and health professionals have been praised for their help and support of the Health in Pregnancy Grant (HiPG).
New donor breastmilk guidelinesNew guidelines that aim to ensure the safety of donor breastmilk have been produced by NICE.
Midwifery film is a winner at the BAFTAsAn animated film celebrating midwifery was recognised by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) at a star-studded ceremony in London on Sunday.
Draft guidelines on weight management during pregnancyNICE is seeking views on recommendations its developed on diet and exercise to manage weight during pregnancy and after childbirth.
New edition of Tommy’s pregnancy guide for young womenThe latest edition of the charity Tommy’s Young woman's guide to a healthy pregnancy is available to buy online and in bulk.
NICE guidelines on stillbirth to be clarifiedThe National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has agreed to review its guidelines on parents seeing and holding their baby after death.
Mary Seacole awards ‘fit for purpose’The Mary Seacole scholarship awards remain ‘fit for purpose’ and are achieving their intended goals, a review by the Department of Health has concluded.
Competition to evaluate clinical trialsThe charity HealthWatch is running its annual student prize for the evaluation of clinical research protocols.
Formula milk banned from TV programmesLegislation prohibiting the product placement in television programmes of infant and follow-on formula milk is being introduced by the UK government.
Liberal Democrats set out their vision for the NHSAlthough public satisfaction in the NHS is high, people do not realise that they face a future spending crunch, Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb has said.
Report reveals deteriorating health of the under-fivesInfant mortality rates have decreased in the last decade, but the health of children under five in England has been deteriorating, according to a new report from the Audit Commission.
CS rates rise in WalesOver a quarter of babies are delivered by caesarean section (CS) in hospitals in Wales, new figures have revealed.
Swine flu in pregnancyA study presenting further information on how the H1N1 influenza A virus affects pregnant women has been published.
Reputation of obstetrics’ pioneers called into questionA historian has claimed that the founding fathers of the obstetric profession – William Smellie and William Hunter – were responsible for the deaths of many pregnant women.
Call for improved communication between maternity and social servicesAround 36% of acute Trusts in England do not have a policy for joint working between maternity and social services.
Are midwives becoming too specialised?Could an overemphasis on specialist skills be to the detriment of the core midwifery role? Midwives’ Maura O’Malley reports.
St David’s Day Conference 2010By Helen Rogers, RCM UK Board for Wales board secretary
Board conference successBy Gillian Smith, director of the RCM UK Board for Scotland
Maternity mattersThe vast majority of the panel voted ‘no’ to whether the government’s Maternity matters policy has made a real difference to women and their babies.
Competition winnersCongratulations to our two competition winners...
RCM helps HaitiThe RCM has donated a £500 start-up contribution to support medical relief charity Merlin and their work in earthquake-stricken Haiti.
There are no guaranteesThe National Maternity Support Foundation (NMSF) and the RCM have launched a leaflet aimed at helping parents plan for the birth of their baby.
Newly-qualified membership subscription rateThe RCM has introduced a special discounted subscription rate for newly-qualified midwives.
PTSD in childbirthThe second part of a study that focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following traumatic childbirth in Eritrea is now available in the in-depth papers section of the Midwives website at: www.rcm.org.uk/midwives/in-depth-papers
Training module for Down’s syndromeA new education module on screening for Down’s syndrome has been produced by the NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme.
Poor dental hygiene associated with stillbirthA case of stillbirth caused by bacteria originating in the mother’s mouth has been reported in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Government launches green paper on supporting familiesThe government has announced a set of measures that includes plans by the RCM to produce new guidance for midwives on how to better engage with fathers.
Capacity remains a concern at Milton Keynes hospitalImprovements have been made to the maternity services of Milton Keynes NHS Foundation Trust, but planning to meet long-term demand remains a concern.
New blood spot screening card for EnglandNew blood spot screening cards are being introduced in England.
Three prior caesareans no barrier to VBACWomen who have three or more prior caesarean sections (CS) are just as successful at attempting a vaginal birth as those that have had one previous CS.
‘Baby brain’ myth debunkedThere is no evidence to support the idea that pregnancy causes lapses in memory, a new study has concluded.
No smoking dayLast year 900,000 smokers made an attempt to quit on No Smoking Day, according to anti-smoking campaigners.
Pregnant? Tell me campaign launchedWomen will no longer have to see their GP to confirm that they are pregnant following the introduction of a new system by NHS Scotland.
Take your skills furtherThe reality of working overseas in developing countries as a midwife or nurse will be debated and discussed at an event this September in London.
Editorial: The power rests with you...Editorial from the RCM public affairs officer Stuart Bonar
Win a BP monitorTwo blood pressure monitors, with proven and clinically validated accuracy during pregnancy and pre-eclampsia are available to win.
DVD highlights healthier future without FGMA new DVD has been launched to inform midwives and healthcare professionals on better working practices for sufferers of female genital mutilation (FGM).
Birth centre opensThe RCM’s president Liz Stephens opened a new £180,000 birth centre at St Helier Hospital in January.
IDM message: more midwivesSupport for the millennium development goals (MDG) 4 and 5, and the need for midwifery-skilled professionals worldwide are the key RCM campaigns around this year’s International Day of the Midwife (IDM) on 5 May.
Maternity leave to be divided up with fathersFathers are being given the opportunity to share paid maternity leave with mothers in new plans announced by the government.
RCM Midwifery Awards 2010Outstanding and innovative midwifery was celebrated at the 2010 RCM awards yesterday.
Smoking increases blood pressure in newborn babiesNewborn babies of women who smoked during pregnancy show signs of circulatory dysfunction, according to the findings of a new Swedish study.
Charity dinner party goes globalThe White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (WRA) is calling on women to support this year’s International Women’s Day and host their own dinner parties on 8 March to help raise funds for the charity.
DVD to highlight healthier future without FGMA new DVD has been launched to inform midwives and healthcare professionals on better working practices for sufferers of female genital mutilation.
Call to monitor future of maternity servicesMaternity services face concerns for the future, according to a report by the NMC.
Should fathers be present at childbirth?Midwives’ Maura O’Malley talks to the main speakers ahead of the RCM student conference debate on fathers’ presence in the delivery suite.
'State your position clearly and briefly'The design and context of the College's professional documents has undergone a through revision, in order to clarify the purpose and types of communications and achieve greater standardisation of the RCM's message on key topics.

Older news articles

Member-only: Older articles are available only to RCM members or Midwives subscribers

Legal birth unites RCM and Bond Solon againA second legal birth conference scheduled for July this year will see the RCM working in partnership with Bond Solon Training again.
Government launches green paper on familiesThe government has announced a set of measures that includes plans by the RCM to produce new guidance for midwives on how to better engage with fathers.
Women’s Hour needs your helpWomen’s Hour is calling for midwives to comment on Maternity matters.
Obesity’s adverse effects on pregnancyFurther evidence of the association between maternal obesity and negative outcomes in pregnancy has been provided by a new study.
iPhone ultrasoundsLive ultrasound screenings will soon be available to record and watch on the iPhone.

View all news articles

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