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 Scotland Director Dr Gillian Smith said, the conference looked at maternity care, ‘which is on the fringes of what is considered the usual care, and because of individuals' needs has to go that little further.’ I had a chance to meet some inspirational people who are putting lots of effort every day into improving maternity services, not only for women and their families but also for colleagues.

Box 1.Deaf NestDeaf Nest encourages positive experiences for mothers and families with hearing difficulties. The project provides clear guidance, visual aids and information on all stages of pregnancy in British Sign Language. Paulina Ewa Sporek won the award for Student Midwife of the Year at the BJM Midwifery Practice Awards 2014 for her work developing the Deaf Nest project.