In this mini course, we will explore the benefits that massage offers during pregnancy and childbirth. From reducing physical discomfort to enhancing emotional well-being, massage proves to be a holistic approach that supports women and birthing people in their journey to motherhood. Learn about the therapeutic advantages, develop your practice toolbox, and consider teaching families about massage to help support a healthy, relaxing pregnancy experience. Last updated 2023.

Mounting scientific evidence is clear: the timing of umbilical cord clamping holds immense significance for neonates, optimal cord clamping improves many short and long term outcomes. This course will help you practice in line with the evidence and support women and families make informed decisions about the care of their newborn. This course has been updated in 2023 with collaboration from Amanda Burleigh #waitforwhite, Hannah Tizard #bloodtobaby and resources from Heike Rabe.

Maternal and paternal mental health is just as important as physical health, but historically was overlooked in busy maternity services. The perinatal period is a vulnerable time for families’ mental health needs as they adapt and transition to parenting; either for the first time or with the addition of siblings to the family. In recent years, the importance of mental health has become a key driver on the maternity services agenda. This study sheet will facilitate your learning and development in this vital area of care.

It's vitally important that midwives understand the complex adaptations to the maternal body during the postnatal period. This course will assist you in supporting women through this transformative period, focusing on both physical recovery and mental well-being. Recap the physiological changes in the body and the spectrum of emotions, including the common "baby blues" and more severe postnatal depression. You'll learn about the hormonal fluctuations, musculoskeletal adjustments, and cardiovascular adaptations that occur after childbirth, as well as strategies for promoting self-care and fostering a supportive environment. This course will equip you with the knowledge to provide comprehensive care and holistic support of postpartum women. New Course 2024.

All women have a choice about where they choose to birth. The environment in which a woman labours and gives birth can have a dramatic effect on the physical and psychological outcomes for mother and baby (Nilsson 2014; Nilsson et al., 2020). The space that is used by birthing women can support the body’s natural ability to release the necessary hormones that create the dance of labour (Buckley 2009), or suppress it. Last updated 2023.

Welcome to the 'Postnatal anatomy physiology and care care quiz 1', which has been designed to assess and consolidate your knowledge on critical aspects of postnatal care and understanding the anatomy and physiology. This quiz will explore several interlinking key areas, including anatomy and physiology, hormonal changes and signs of infection.

Welcome to the Pre-existing conditions in the perinatal period Quiz 1 which has been designed to assess and consolidate your knowledge on pre-existing conditions in pregnancy and over the childbirth continuum. This quiz will explore several topics such as gestational diabetes, cardiac conditions and cancer in pregnancy.

Midwifery regulation worldwide considers reflection on clinical practice having significant importance. In high income countries, as the field of midwifery continues to evolve in its complexity, the utilisation of reflection becomes essential in supporting midwives and student midwives through a continuous improvement process. This process aims to foster personal and professional resilience, enhance the quality of care provided, and ensure preparedness for professional revalidation (Nursing and Midwifery Council, NMC 2015). Internationally, the ICM Global Standards for Midwifery Education (2021) advocate the use of reflection in the development of midwifery competencies, with the ultimate goal of reducing global maternal and perinatal mortality. Last updated 2023. 

Successive annual UK MBRACCE reports have identified disproportionate morbidity and mortality rates amongst Black, Asian and ethnically diverse women in the UK, this situation is reflected in many other countries across the world. In response to these ongoing maternal health inequalities, All4Maternity has commissioned a committee of women representative of this beneficiary group to develop this essential course, which promotes understanding of how to improve maternity care for women and families from marginalised ethnic communities. This essential course is solution-focussed and designed to support learners to explore strategies they can use to improve the pregnancy outcomes of Black, Asian and ethnically diverse women and families. Last updated 2024.

Successive annual UK MBRACCE reports have identified disproportionate morbidity and mortality rates amongst Black, Asian and ethnically diverse women in the UK, this situation is reflected in many other countries across the world. In response to these ongoing maternal health inequalities, All4Maternity has commissioned a committee of women representative of this beneficiary group to develop this essential course, which promotes understanding of how to improve maternity care for women and families from marginalised ethnic communities. This essential course is solution-focussed and designed to support learners to explore strategies they can use to improve the pregnancy outcomes of Black, Asian and ethnically diverse women and families. This is the second course in the series of two.

Self-care for midwives refers to the intentional practice of nurturing and maintaining physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Midwifery is a demanding profession that requires dedication, compassion, and continuous learning. To provide the best care for others, midwives must also prioritise their own health and self-care. Last updated 2023.

Welcome to this advanced course, designed for midwifery leaders and midwives who are developing their understanding about the role of partnership working with service users in maternity services. Depending on your country and location, this may be something new to you or your maternity organisation. Across the world it is considered gold standard practice, to understand how women and families experience maternity care services and how this feedback can shape and inform improvements to their care and inform all levels of designing, planning and delivering services.

In this course you will develop knowledge about the importance and benefits of skin-to-skin contact for the newborn, parents and families as part of building close and loving relationships. This course will cover various birth scenarios and clinical practice considerations, including preparation during pregnancy and support following different types of births. The content will also explore the links between skin-to-skin contact, optimal breastfeeding and infant feeding, parent-infant attachment, and ongoing benefits for both mother, parents and newborn. Last updated 2023. 

Respectful vaginal examinations are an essential skill required of midwives. However, midwives also need to discern the necessity of vaginal examinations as ‘routine’ procedures against a preordained ‘clock’. Discerning necessary and unnecessary vaginal examinations is a skill in itself; this study sheet expands that idea to consider the other ways and methods of assessing the progress of labour without recourse to routine vaginal examinations. Therefore, facilitating a wider, more holistic approach to clinical care.

Iron deficiency poses significant risks to pregnant women worldwide, impacting both maternal health and the wellbeing of newborns. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2023, approximately 40% of children aged 6–59 months, 37% of pregnant women, and 30% of women aged 15–49 years are affected by anaemia globally. Whether pre-existing or developing during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postnatal period, iron deficiency and anaemia require careful attention. This course, will help you to understand the physiological mechanisms of iron absorption, explore the challenges faced by women and families in adhering to routine iron supplementation, and discuss strategies to overcome these obstacles. Additionally, we will provide supportive practice considerations aligned with national and global recommendations, empowering you with the knowledge and tools needed to promote maternal health and ensure the well-being of both mothers and newborns. New for 2024.

The Better Births report (NHS, 2016) emphasises collaboration with service users, indicating that involving women, families, and birthing people in the maternity services leads to safer, more personalised, and effective care (Sandall et al, 2016). While this approach is applicable worldwide, not all healthcare systems enable active user feedback in maternity care. Feedback and involvement can occur during perinatal care meetings like clinics, home visits, specialist listening services or groups. The mini course showcases a UK example, the maternity voices partnerships, illustrating how service users contribute to creating a safe and quality maternity service. New Course 2023.

Central to respectful, humanised care is the active recognition of women’s bodily autonomy. This means that women have the only and final say on what happens to their body. In the UK, we have strong legislation that supports women’s human rights in childbirth. Fundamental to these rights is the application of meaningful consent in all aspects of our care, this includes respecting women’s decisions should they decline recommendations of care. This study sheet will offer direct guidance regarding consent, and while a UK focused paper it can be applied to other contexts.

As midwives, we are expected to use research to ensure our practice is evidence-based. However, engaging with research findings frequently feels challenging as we navigate the nuanced language and methods used to generate midwifery knowledge. Understanding research approaches and perspectives is crucial for our midwifery studies and to inform our every-day work with childbearing women, people and their families.

In the first study sheet, we introduced this series – ‘Unpacking research’ and focused on a quantitative systematic review to explore critical appraisal skills. This second study sheet focuses on a qualitative systematic review and the skills required to appraise such a review. As a reminder, appraising research means to make an informed assessment of the quality of the research reported. Checking for quality is important before we implement findings into our practice. Do note, quality assessment is a complex area with many differences of opinion so novice assessments should be held as tentative rather than definitive.

Research underpins evidence-based midwifery care and practice. However, understanding and appraising research is its own unique skill set which requires ongoing practice to learn. Appraising research means to make an informed assessment of the quality of the research reported. Checking for quality is important before we implement findings into our practice. Do note, quality assessment is a complex area with many differences of opinion so novice assessments should be held as tentative rather than definitive.