MIDIRS Essence - Feed

Focus on physiological breech birth

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In this month's edition of Essentially MIDIRS, Jane Evans will be describing what to expect during a physiological breech birth

The use of music during labour and for the birth

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The December 2011 issue of MIDIRS Midwifery Digest includes an article on the role of music during labour

Aspiring Midwives - wishful thinking?

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The difficulties of obtaining places to study midwifery by Denise Tiran, Educational Director, Expectancy. According to the recent report on the State of maternity services (RCM 2011), England has a shortage of 4700 midwives; problems are compounded by rapidly rising birth rates and a diminishing workforce as many approach retirement age

One-of-a-kind one-stop-shop

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, EastEnders was only a year old and the average UK house price was less than �40,000

Win a brand new iPad 2

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Simply subscribe to Essentially MIDIRS on or before 16th April 2012 to enter our Student Prize Draw. At only �4.99 per quarter or �19.96 per year for students, you can’t afford not to treat yourself to our popular monthly journal and the chance to win a brand new iPad 2 - the perfect online learning tool for students

Study Skills: Part Three

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Obtaining research information from publications and an introduction to basic critiquing skills. As well as the appropriate presentation of your work for academic assignments, it is important that your statements are supported by research based evidence

Kenya in 2011: an elective report

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Rebecca Rogers, Student Midwife at Oxford Brookes University and Iolanthe Student Award winner. ‘Wait-a-bit’, the name of a tree I encountered on my first day in Kenya

Launch of MIDIRS and NCT Professional Shop

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Maternity health care professionals and student midwives can now search a wide range of maternity related resources by visiting the new MIDIRS and NCT Professional Shop. The recently launched site (www.nctprofessional.co.uk) demonstrates MIDIRS and NCT’s commitment to providing tried and trusted products that have the stamp of approval from dedicated health experts. Easily accessible and designed with the busy practitioner and student in mind, the new online shop includes appropriate and innovative products that, in keeping with both organisations’ missions, aim to promote normality in childbirth

Family Foundations: helping mums and dads to build strong families

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In 2007, important Department of Health (DH) guidance Maternity matters (DH 2007) set out clearly that midwives and other health professionals should engage with both parents as routine in maternity care, and make sure that both are well informed

The challenge of putting what is upside down right side up again

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Ina May Gaskin, midwife and educationist. My first chance to learn about British midwifery came when midwifery tutors Cathy Warwick and Kate Newson visited The Farm in the early 1980s, when the caesarean rate in the UK was half of the US rate at that time (25%)

The retirement of the UK’s first male professor of midwifery - Paul Lewis

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Bournemouth University is celebrating the career of Professor Paul Lewis, who is retiring from academia this autumn

19 reasons to read the December issue of Essentially MIDIRS

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Is care in multiple pregnancies set to improve?

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

by Keith Reed, Chief Executive, Twins and Multiple Births Association. Over the past 30 years, the number of multiple births has risen mainly because of the introduction of assisted reproduction techniques, including in vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Study Skills Part Two

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Midwifery is often described as being both an 'art' and a 'science' - the 'art' component of midwifery practice is considered to be based on practitioners’ observation, experience and clinical intuition

New approaches to preparing for parenthood

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

by Kate Billingham (pictured), Project Director, Family Nurse Partnership, Department of Health. It goes without saying that having a baby is one of life’s most significant events and the transition to parenthood is a time of great change

Another RCM Conference, another year

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It hardly seems possible that it’s nearly a year since the last RCM Conference in Manchester, but in just two weeks we’ll be packing up our conference kit and heading off to Brighton. Last year we were proudly showing off our new baby, Essentially MIDIRS, and getting feedback on a monthly publication that has really found its feet

Filled with enthusiasm and new knowledge for my research and clinical practice

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Midwives who came to celebrate at the Iolanthe Midwifery Trust’s awards presentation event on 22 September 2011, represented almost every aspect of the profession and its work, as well as midwifery carried out in a wide range of locations, within the UK and elsewhere

Are birth centres sustainable? Consider the seven P's!

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

By Grace Thomas, Consultant Midwife and Associate Lecturer at Cardiff University. The number of birth centres across the UK has increased over the last ten years in response to many factors, political, social and financial, as well as demand from women and midwives

Saving time when it matters

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In July 2011, aid agencies in the UK launched their biggest ever campaigns to tackle what they referred to as a ‘creeping disaster’ for countries such as Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Ethiopia (Rice 2011)

Halcyon days ahead for Sandwell Mums

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new arrival to the family of maternity services provided by Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust (SWBH), the Halcyon Birth Centre, had its official opening last week, 11th October, ahead of the start of maternity services on 31st October. ITN newsreader and journalist, Julie Etchingham, came specifically to Sandwell to open the unit, before heading back to London to read the evening news

Midwifery teachers highly valued by students and newly qualified midwives

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the often complex and demanding role of midwifery teachers, the input they offer to the curriculum has been found to be highly valued by students and newly qualified midwives, concludes The Mint Project - Midwives in Teaching final report. Led by the University of Nottingham in collaboration with the Universities of Kingston/St Georges, Glamorgan, Robert Gordon and Plymouth, The MINT project was commissioned by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to investigate the contribution of midwife teachers to the care provided by students and newly qualified midwives to mothers and babies

NHS Bristol maternal and child nutrition guidelines

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The evidence base for good nutrition in early years is strong for both short term health, for example prevention of constipation and anaemia, and long term prevention of chronic disease such as obesity

Study Skills (Part 1)

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

As part of their midwifery education, students need to undertake both academic study, as well as become competent in aspects of midwifery practice

Keeping healthy habits in the home

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dettol's Mission for Health Campaign calls on health care professionals to support women in making healthy choices in the home. 'Mission for Health' is Dettol’s global health and hygiene awareness raising campaign which aims to promote a healthier environment in the home, in the community and beyond

Supporting mothers, celebrating success and looking to the future

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

So many commentators begin their articles on the health system these days by making reference to the gloomy times in which we find ourselves

A reflection on studying midwifery in the Highlands

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

- by the University of Stirling's 2009 midwifery cohort. With the end of the integrated (18 month shortened and three year direct entry) midwifery programme at the University of Stirling fast approaching we, the penultimate 2009 cohort at the Highland Campus in Inverness, are grateful to MIDIRS Essence for this opportunity to reflect on our journey through our midwifery education to date

Anatomy and physiology of the fetal skull

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

— a new practice development tool from MIDIRS. Undertaking intrapartum vaginal examinations is a core midwifery skill that we first learn theoretically and then develop and hone through our midwifery clinical practice

The ups and downs of student life

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dorothy Cook, Programme Leader at the University of West of England, asked students what challenges they felt they faced whilst undertaking their midwifery programme - and what tips they would pass on to new students

Introducing MIDIRS Midwifery Digest

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

This month Sally Marchant, editor of MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, writes about the format of MIDIRS quarterly journal, and how the content can be of use to students and midwives in their practice and studies

A journey of discovery and delight

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

- reflections on the touchstone of midwifery practice and professionalism by Professor Paul Lewis, Associate Dean, Bournemouth University. The new academic year is upon us and throughout the United Kingdom successful University applicants will be eagerly anticipating the start of their respective education programmes and perhaps with some fear and trepidation, wondering what the future holds? It is a cycle that is repeated each and every year, and while University education is a somewhat recent requirement for those entering the midwifery profession, the same hopes, fears, aspirations and anxieties are as keenly felt as they have always been down the centuries of midwifery education and training