Julia Magill-Cuerden

Hospital birth, the environment and social networking

In many parts of the country there are plans to reorganize the maternity services within specialist hospitals that would be larger, but also to develop midwifery-led services in smaller units with community services (Healthcare for London NHS, 2007; Department of Health, 2007). In some cases units may close. These plans may increase the number of women who require care within a specialist institution. There is a caveat that the more that birth becomes technicalized the number of women considered to need these specialist services will increase. The more that medical care is improved the greater the number of women with problems who will become pregnant.

Making government ideas reality

The Department of Health (DH) has offered a view of the publics expectations for healthcare in the 21st century (DH, 2004). Though the messages are similar to those advocated for midwifery over the last decade, the ideas are endorsed for the total health service. Midwives should be able to implement these ideas but the reality in clinical practice is very different. There is a conflict between policy and practice.

Harrogate: optimism and self-promotion

The atmosphere for the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) annual conference Promoting the Business of Midwifery at Harrrogate indicated a new level of optimism for the future of midwifery, generating a view that we must believe in what we do to convey this message publicly to others. Promoting the business of midwifery has a purposeful sense in that midwives have to define the ‘product’ they are selling. Midwives will require training and education to meet the Government agenda; to accommodate changes required, support each other in the process and market what we are doing.

International midwifery legislation

One of the events to celebrate the 100 years of legislation of professional midwifery was an international conference entitled Birth rights: Liberty through Legislation? that took place at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London on the 21–23 October. International speakers spoke of the influence of midwifery legislation upon womens health and childbearing and its importance in reducing risk in pregnancy care. The relationship between midwifery legislation and maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality was evident in the debates over 3 days.

Returning from Vienna and Bournemouth

Now the two conferences are over, it is time to reflect upon the messages from both the 26th Triennial Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives, from 14–18 April in Vienna, and the Royal College of Midwives Annual Conference in Bournemouth from 30 April to 3 May.

From Vienna to Bournemouth

April is conference month for midwives. This will enable midwives to be engaged, uplifted and renew their faith in the midwifery profession. It is a time to reflect on the purpose of midwifery and to recognise the roles that midwives play in the lives of women.