Protecting human rights in childbirth
NHS England’s Personalised Care Institute (PCI) has launched a brand-new e-learning module on personalised care in maternity services. The module, which is free to access and takes around 30 minutes, aims to give all those working in maternity care the knowledge and skills they need to have meaningful choice conversations with women and birthing people, … Read more
Leigh Day have sent a letter before action to Betsi Cadwaladr, on behalf of Birthrights and a local couple expecting a baby. The letter asks the Health Board to explain why there have been no substantial changes to visiting arrangements in maternity services since November. Partners are not able to visit their other halves or … Read more
Many people have an image of doulas working with middle-class women who can afford additional support. However doulas also work with women facing difficult and complex circumstances. In the third blog post in our series on second birth partners, we hear from Jo Doherty, Group Leader for the Happy Baby Community (HBC) a pan-London community … Read more
Today we hear from Birth and Postnatal Doula, Carla, trained by BirthBliss Academy and her client Kitty about their experience of navigating NHS maternity care, during the pandemic. The experience of being told slightly different things by different staff members, and that nagging fear that you might not be allowed something that is really important to you, even … Read more
Visitor restrictions in maternity units have changed significantly over the last few weeks which is fantastic news. However one of the areas where we would like to see more progress is Trusts and Boards inviting second birth partners back into maternity services as a matter of course. This may not come top of the list of priorities … Read more
Midwife and Birthrights Associate Trainer, Octavia Wiseman, reflects on the difference kindness can make in maternity care. Octavia experienced the kindness of other professionals first hand after her house went up in flames just a couple of weeks ago… The last twelve months have been challenging for us all. For me, the upheaval of the … Read more
On International Day of the Midwife 2021, Sophie Russell, Consultant Midwife at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust and a Birthrights Trainer, gives us an insight into a typical day and reflects on how human rights impact her work as a midwife. Each day in my role is unique, rewarding and challenging; here is a snippet … Read more
Birthrights are delighted to share that Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) will offer maternal request caesareans at the John Radcliffe hospital going forward. Elizabeth Prochaska and Maria Booker from Birthrights met with Sir Jonathan Montgomery (Chair of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, OUH) and Professor Meghana Pandit (Chief Medical Officer, OUH) on the … Read more
Birthrights has today published legal advice, which states that requiring a partner or new parent to self-isolate may be unlawful in certain circumstances. We have written to NHS England & Improvement, asking them to correct the paragraphs in their visiting guidance for maternity services which suggest that partners or new parents should always be asked … Read more
We are convening a national inquiry into racial injustice in maternity care, throughout 2021, with support from law firm Leigh Day. The inquiry will be led by an expert panel made up of Black and Brown people with lived experience, midwives and obstetricians, healthcare and human rights lawyers, and other experts across academia, anti-racism, health policy and participation. … Read more