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Latest News
BLOG: The cost of disproportionate response
The pattern has been the same throughout the pandemic. A simple explanation followed by a seemingly inevitable consequence “Due to rising COVID, visitor restrictions have been reintroduced”. Sometimes followed by an acknowledgement of how difficult this is for everyone concerned. What is often missing is a detailed explanation of how a decision has been reached. … Read more
COVID-19 has created a maternity mental health burden of £17.5 billion
Perinatal depression and anxiety could cost society an additional £17.5 billion in England, an analysis commissioned by Birthrights, the UK’s charity for protecting human rights in childbirth, has concluded. The article, written by health economist and Associate Professor (UCL) Rachael Hunter and published by the Journal of Quality in Health Care & Economics, discusses the … Read more
Birthrights’ responds to article published in The Sunday Times
Yesterday, The Sunday Times published an article containing criticisms of Birthrights by the author Milli Hill. Until recently, Birthrights has worked alongside Milli to champion women’s rights in pregnancy and childbirth. As reported, in November Milli posted comments on social media disputing that obstetric violence could happen to trans or non-binary people. We were also made … Read more
Birthrights welcomes calls to end disparity in maternity care for Black and Brown women and birthing people
Birthrights, the UK’s charity for protecting human rights in childbirth, has welcomed the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s report into safety of maternity services in England The Committee’s report highlights women and babies from minority ethnic and socioeconomically deprived backgrounds are at greater risk when compared to their white or less deprived peers Birthrights … Read more
“Induction proposals ignore black and brown women’s experience of maternity services” says Birthrights
Birthrights has published its response to NICE’s draft guideline on induction which recommends that all women and birthing people should be offered induction at 41 weeks. It also recommends that groups at increased risk of complications, including black and brown women, those aged 35 or over, women with a high BMI, or after assisted conception, … Read more
Personalised Care Institute launches vital new e-learning module
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
Betsi Cadwaladr legally challenged over partner restrictions
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
BLOG: Second birth partners – are doulas a middle class luxury?
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
BLOG: Second birth partners – why does it matter to women/birthing people?
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