- by Duncan Fisher, Honorary Fellow, Faculty of Health & Social Care, University of Chester.

Keeping abreast of the latest research evidence and practice developments, and more importantly ensuring that these are applied whilst studying and in midwifery practice, can sometimes be confusing and daunting; never more so than when you are embarking on your chosen career pathway of becoming a midwife.

The Baby Friendly Initiative is a worldwide programme of UNICEF and the World Health Organization. It was established in 1992 to encourage maternity hospitals to implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and to practice in accordance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

'I first became involved with Midwifery Support Workers (MSWs) during late 2003,
when midwifery recruitment and retention was a concern, and when there was broad agreement that health care support workers could enhance the work of the maternity team in meeting the diverse needs of women and their families', writes Alison Brown, Consultant Midwife at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Student midwives currently focusing on anatomy and physiology will find the practice development section of www.midirs.org/student a source of invaluable information.