Blog & News
Newsletter 4: Le Cocon meets MUNet
Newsletter 4, November 2020, By Laure Depuydt Le Cocon is the first Belgian Alongside Midwifery Unit that opened its doors in Brussels in March 2014. This was a huge step in a country where the obstetric climate is, let’s say… challenging. In Belgium there is mainly...
Newsletter 3: How can hypnobirthing help women and midwives on a Midwifery Unit?
Newsletter 3, September 2020, By Judith Flood I first encountered women using Hypnobirthing techniques during their births around 15 years ago whilst working on busy alongside Birth Centre in an inner London Trust. Hypnobirthing was almost unheard of in the UK at that...
Newsletter 2: The Barkantine Birth Centre during Covid 19
Newsletter 2, August 2020 Our monthly newsletter aims to offer you a glimpse into some of our work and passions.This month is about the Barkantine Birth Centre during COVID-19. The Barkantine Birth Centre is a freestanding birth centre in the East End of London,...
Newsletter 1: Welcome to Midwifery Unit Network!
Newsletter 1, July 2020 Welcome to Midwifery Unit Network! Our monthly newsletter aims to offer you a glimpse into some of our work and passions. This month is about how we utilise research to influence and campaign. Throughout the world, pregnant and birthing women...
The development of midwifery unit standards for Europe
The new Midwifery Unit Standards were developed to bring to- gather the best available evidence related to service delivery. They identify key indicators which address dynamic factors influencing organistional culture and implementation of change. We examined barriers...
An analysis of media reporting on the closure of freestanding midwifery units in England
Despite clinical guidelines and policy promoting choice of place of birth, 14 Freestanding Midwifery Units were closed between 2008 and 2015, closures reported in the media as justified by low use and financial constraints. This paper uses an interpretative technique...
Factors influencing the utilisation of free-standing and alongside midwifery units in England: A Qualitative Research study
Midwifery-led units (MUs) are recommended for ‘low-risk’ births by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence but according to the National Audit Office were not available in one-quarter of trusts in England in 2013 and, when available, were used by only a...
Article in The Guardian (1st April 2020) – NHS urged to turn hotels into birth centres during crisis
Article in “The Guardian” 1st April 2020 – NHS urged to turn hotels into birth centres during crisis
‘Pop-up’ maternity units would help avoid coronavirus risks, say experts.
Hotels should be used as “pop-up” birth centres with retired and student midwives drafted in to support NHS staff, maternity experts recommend in a bid to help expectant mothers stay away from hospitals amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The call comes as the charity Birthrights warned that the withdrawal of homebirth and birth centre services could be unlawful and lead health trusts to be responsible for significant risk to life if women choose to give birth without medical assistance.
Read the full article here – https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/01/nhs-urged-to-turn-hotels-into-birth-centres-during-coronavirus-crisis?fbclid=IwAR3Ri4yTrfXtVYtYXf317Co2szlh-6lY_I-n7mUOzKpTBIwvSp7gcgBDwjQ
Midwifery Unit Network first European Conference Barcelona (City Press Office)
HEALTH Midwifery Unit Network first European Conference Barcelona More than 300 healthcare providers and service users gathered earlier this month for MUNet’s first European conference in Barcelona, Spain. First published Friday, 29th November, 2019 • by City Press...
A window on our world – The Powys maternity service
Dr Marie Lewis, Consultant Midwife, Powys Teaching Health Board 'On average, 30% of women in Powys have midwife-led care in the community for labour; with 15% of that group (about 1 in 7) transferring to hospital for care during labour (intrapartum transfers)'....