Reclaiming Birth - Sunday 7 March 2010

Reclaiming Birth is a campaign by NCT, AIMS, ARM, IM UK and Albany Mums about the standard of maternity services throughout the UK. We want parents-to-be to have the best opportunity to start family life in the optimum way. Our concerns cover a range of issues.

Many women and their partners are left alone in labour and get little support from overstretched midwives. Parents-to-be often don't have access to the services and support they need for the birth of their baby to be a safe, positive and life affirming event.

This will only change when there are more midwives, more women being able to birth in free-standing midwifery units (Birth Centres) or at home and more midwives carrying their own caseloads and looking after parents-to-be from conception to birth and postnatally. Few parents-to-be currently have any of these options.

For more information including a rally guide and downloadable posters:

The NCT website
Save the Albany website

Sea Life Centres - discounted tickets

NCT has once again teamed up with Merlin Entertainment to bring you a fantastic offer at SEA LIFE centres & Sanctuaries across the UK. There is 50% discount on tickets when you buy through the NCT.

There are centres in Birmingham, Brighton, Blackpool, Great Yarmouth, Loch Lomond, Scarborough, Weymouth, Gweek, Hunstanton and Oban.

This offer not only saves you money, but it also raises money for the NCT as we get a donation for each ticket bought through the NCT!

For more details of this fantastic offer check the NCT website; [original article]

1st Nottingham Birth Conference

Aimed at women, fathers and families, midwives, maternity care professionals, doulas, healthcare students and everyone interested in childbirth, the 1st Nottingham Birth Conference, which is being organised by the Nottingham branch of the Royal College of Midwives, is taking place on Saturday 6 March at the Djanogly City Academy.

The theme of the conference is "Normality and Childbirth: Evidence, Experience and Debate" and there are some excellent speakers:

• Denis Walsh - Implications of the Albany Group’s Experience for Midwifery-Led Services.

• Mary Cronk - Breech presentation and place of birth.

• Suzanne Colson - Biological Nurturing: a new approach to breastfeeding.

• Mavis Kirkham, Researcher, Clinical Midwife and Author - Birthing in trust or in fear? Homebirth and the contradictions of modern maternity care.

• Alison Atkinson, Amanda Sullivan and Sascha Wells - NHS Maternity Service Leaders, Nottingham

Several NCT antenatal teachers and breastfeeding counsellors will be representing the NCT in the exhibition and available to talk to delegates about what the NCT is doing locally.

Price: £40 per person (includes lunch)

For a booking form go to Nottingham RCM or email your details to the Birth Conference organisers.

If you do not have access to email, please call Lisa or Eleanor on 0115 846 9299

; [original article]

Birthplace Transfer Study

Posted on behalf of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit

The Birthplace Transfer Study is part of a larger study which aims to
find out what happens to women who are transferred from a midwifery unit
to a hospital obstetric unit during labour. The study will explore and
describe what women think and feel about this experience so that the
process of transfer can be improved for women in the future.

I've had a great response from previous requests for help, but would
still like to hear from women who were having a second or subsequent
baby and women who were transferred in an emergency or had a
particularly traumatic experience.

Women who were transferred from a midwifery unit or birth centre (either
freestanding or alongside a consultant unit in a hospital) to a hospital
consultant obstetric unit during labour in the past 12 months are
eligible to take part in this study. Participants would take part in an
interview about their experiences, either in their own home or at
another convenient location.

If you are interested in taking part please contact Rachel Rowe on 01865
289713 or rachel.rowe@npeu.ox.ac.uk; [original article]

Would you like to work from home? NCT job vacancies

The NCT is looking for several home-based administrators across the UK to take bookings for the various courses we run.

To find out more, follow the links to the Jobs section of the NCT website. ; [original article]

Maternity and Newborn Service Review

There are only a couple of weeks left for you to have your say on Maternity Services in the Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire area.

Responses to this review will determine the maternity care that you - and other parents - receive in this area and may alter the treatment of your newborn baby.

It's essential that as many people as possible who have recently had babies answer their questions.

If something is not seen to be important, it may disappear.

So if you would have liked:

- to have seen the same midwife throughout your pregnancy
- to feel you had more choice on where your baby was born
- more time to decide where your baby was born
- a tour around the place where you'd planned for your baby to be born
- a home birth
- better surroundings in the hospital/different facilities in your room
- easier access to antenatal appointments
- more antenatal preparation for labour, birth and parenting

and a whole lot more...

please visit the Maternity and Newborn Review website and answer their questionnaire.

; [original article]

West Bridgford Bumps and Babies - Puddleducks

Liz from Puddle Ducks (a new baby and toddler swim school that has just launched in Nottingham) is coming in to talk to us on Thursday 4th March (the session will run as usual from 1.30pm and I have asked Liz to come along to give a half hour input at 2pm)

--
Claire
West Bridgford Bumps and Babies; [original article]

Nearly New Sale helpers needed

We're looking for helpers for our next Nearly New Sale. If you can help please contact our helpers' email or talk to your Bumps and Babies host or antenatal teacher.

Helpers are needed:

• Friday evening to set up the venue
• Saturday morning from 8am to accept goods from sellers and set up ready for sale
• Saturday morning throughout the sale
• Saturday early afternoon until about 2pm to clear up

Mums, dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles are all welcome to help.

The sale is on Saturday 20 March at the Long Eaton School from 10am to 11.45am (NCT members with membership card can enter at 9.45am).

Admission is £1 per adult. We sell clothing for children newborn to 10 years old, maternity wear, nursery equipment and toys. We recommend that you do not bring pushchairs or your children to this event as it can be extremely busy and crowded. ; [original article]

Reminder - 5 minute mummy makeovers at LE B&B tomorrow

Lorna will be in tomorrow to help you with some tips for looking good. Having become a mum herself in the past year, she knows just what you changes you have been going through and what challenges you are facing!

Oh mustn't forget - she needs a model. Volunteers welcome.

See you in the morning.

--
Sue; [original article]