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New law on notifying female genital mutilation

A new legal requirement to notify the police of cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) has now come into effect. The word ‘cutting’ is sometimes added to the word ‘mutilation’ so that the initials...

Unconscious bias

I recently attended a very interesting lecture about unconscious bias, presented by our programme leader Georgina Sims It made me realise that we often make instinctive decisions about other people...

Living with autism: What's your superpower? A personal reflection

This article provides an overview of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) incorporating the carer and user perspectives linked to maternity services, based on the author's personal experience It discusses...

Values-based recruitment and the NHS Constitution: Making sure student midwives meet the brief

This article will discuss values-based recruitment (VBR) in the context of the selection and recruitment of student midwives to a 3-year undergraduate midwifery programme and discuss how the qualities...

Determining the best interests of the critically ill neonate

It is regrettable that some neonates are born with life-threatening conditions or become seriously ill shortly after birth In the majority of cases, the neonate's parents make decisions about their...

Research roundup: November 2015

Obesity intervention does not prevent gestational diabetes The UK Pregnancies Better Eating and Activity Trial (UPBEAT) was conducted in eight hospitals across the UK Obese women (BMI ≥30 kg/m2)...

Midwifery Share Room project

I recently had the privilege of speaking about my Deaf Nest project (Box 1) at the annual conference of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Scotland, entitled ‘Daring Greatly—The Midwives Way’. As RCM...

Supporting mental health and wellbeing

Perinatal mental health is a priority issue for health professionals involved in the care of women during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Two recent publications have highlighted areas where...

Don't throw the midwife out with the baby's bath water

One of the great things about being a midwife is the privilege of sharing the miracle of new life. The role of the midwife and the uniqueness of the dynamic relationship with women may be immeasurable...

Working together to prevent female genital mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a form of abuse against women and girls (HM Government, 2014) The UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNICEF, 1989: 8) states that: ‘Parties shall take all...

Considering genetic modification

In September 2015, it was reported that researchers at London's Francis Crick Institute (2015) had sought permission from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to use so-called ‘gene...

Pelvic girdle pain: Are we missing opportunities to make this a problem of the past?

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP), formerly known as symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), was first described in the time of Hippocrates (Snelling, 1870) Until recently, quantitative research, much of which has...

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