MIDIRS - Midwifery Information & Resource Service

14/10/2025

October 9-15 is Baby Loss Awareness Week, a time to support bereaved parents and families to commemorate their babies' lives. The week, which is supported by over 100 charities, is also a time for midwives, MSWs and other healthcare professionals to reflect on the impact of baby loss on themselves.

Head to MIDIRS blog to read about notable events occurring over Baby Loss Awareness Week, including an extension of baby loss bereavement care support by the Welsh Government, a parliamentary debate on the topic of baby loss, and the globally-recognised Wave of Light happening tomorrow. 🕯️

https://rcm.org.uk/blog/2025/10/notable-events-this-baby-loss-awareness-week/

12/10/2025

Do you know about this RSV-specific Learning Hub?

Created by the ReSViNET Foundation, an international network of healthcare professionals and researchers, the ReSViNET Learning Hub is a free online platform that contains evidence-based materials designed to support healthcare professionals in communicating RSV to patients.

With all resources available in 11 different languages, the hub aims to provide inclusive materials to strengthen discussions between professionals and families. Furthermore, the platform keeps professionals, including midwives, up to date with developments in RSV research. These accessible RSV resources help to protect newborns and young children from the impact of RSV.

Head to ReSViNET's website - https://learninghub.resvinet.org/ - to explore the Hub, which contains a multitude of resources, including factsheets, FAQs, podcasts, animations and clinical cases.

10/10/2025

Today is World Mental Health Day, a reminder not only of the vital role midwives and maternity professionals play in supporting parents’ mental wellbeing, but the importance of looking after their own.

To commemorate, MIDIRS Search Pack of the Month is M10: Stress and Burnout in Midwifery.

Head to our blog (linked below) to read more about World Mental Health Day, access resources for supporting and promoting mental wellbeing, and download your free copy of the Search Pack, which contains the latest research and guidance on the topic. Plus, find past issues of MIDIRS Midwifery Digest covering the topic of stress and burnout.

We hope that this free resource allows struggling midwives and maternity professionals to hear about other’s experiences, learn of potential avenues to reducing stress, and understand that they are not alone. Furthermore, it allows those who don’t experience high levels of stress and burnout to understand how their colleagues and friends may feel, fostering more supportive work environments💗

https://rcm.org.uk/news/2025/10/stress-and-burnout-in-midwifery-search-pack-of-the-month-october/

08/10/2025

The deadline for abstracts for the RCM Education and Research Conference 2026, titled "The power of education and research: strengthening the midwifery community", is fast approaching.

Submissions are accepted until this Sunday, 12 October 2025.

Learn more:

Event Details Date: 18 March 2026 Time: 8:00am – 4:00pm Capacity: 120 Available spaces: 120 Registration: Open Book Now

07/10/2025

📣 Student Midwives: Join the Midwives-in-Training Research and Journal Review Club for an online webinar on the role of AI in midwifery📣

This session is presented by Michelle McKay, Course Director for Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Staffordshire and the host of the Midwives-in-Training Research and Journal Review Club.

Michelle has a keen interest in how AI can support students, midwives and the public if used correctly. She is completing a post-graduate award in AI for healthcare at Warwick University and is involved in a project to create accessible training for student midwives that is safe, ethical and evidence-based.

Michelle will explore the topic "What is the role of AI for midwifery education and practice?". There will be a presentation, a Q&A session and the chance for discussion with your student midwife peers.

Head to our Eventbrite below to secure your free ticket and ensure your spot at the webinar. We look forward to seeing you there! 💗

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mitrjrc-ai-for-healthcare-with-michelle-mckay-tickets-1777948213969?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=1

01/10/2025

Missed our latest Midwives-in-Training Research and Journal Review Club session? You can now watch the presentation on our YouTube channel.

Learn about the steps you can take as a student midwife to write for publication by clicking the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt4A5-0ucpc

21/09/2025

The Stillbirth Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) is seeking respondents to help them shape the future of stillbirth research.

Following an initial survey to decipher the most important unanswered questions about stillbirth, they have shortlisted 79 summary questions. Now, the PSP is asking UK-based maternity professionals, parents, and individuals affected by stillbirth to vote for the 10 most important research questions.

Head to our blog to learn more and complete the survey:
https://rcm.org.uk/blog/2025/09/shaping-the-future-of-stillbirth-research-the-stillbirth-priority-setting-partnership/

18/09/2025

An international research study approved by Griffith University Ethics Committee is looking for midwives to contribute their perspectives on climate change and sustainable healthcare🔎

The purpose of the study is as follows: "Healthcare systems worldwide contribute significantly to carbon emissions and environmental degradation. Midwives play a critical role in healthcare delivery and have unique opportunities to implement sustainable practices. This research aims to understand midwives' awareness of climate change issues, attitudes toward environmentally friendly healthcare, and barriers to implementing sustainable practices."

The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, and is anonymous. Scan the QR code above, or head to this link to complete the survey: https://griffithuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_erMvGeUHleFbVCC

16/09/2025

Some of Team MIDIRS have been in Lancashire this week at the 24th International Labour and Birth Research Conference👩‍🍼

The theme of this year’s conference, organised by the Research in Childbirth and Health Group at the University of Central Lancashire, is “Making Birth Better: bringing together evidence, knowledge and experience”.

We are here until tomorrow, so if you’re in attendance there is still time to say hello and grab a copy of MIDIRS Midwifery Digest. 💗

P.S - shoutout to the RCMs lovely research team who are also pictured!

16/09/2025

Interested in writing for MIDIRS Midwifery Digest? Take a look at what some of our authors have to say about the submission process 📝

MIDIRS aims to be a space where all midwives, student midwives, maternity support workers and health professionals can share their knowledge and experiences to improve practice and outcomes. We welcome original contributions from new, aspiring, or established writers.

Head to our website below to learn more about writing for the Digest, read our submission guidance, and submit your article for review.

https://rcm.org.uk/midirs/midirs-midwifery-digest/

14/09/2025

🔔 Upcoming webinars of interest to maternity professionals🔔

Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) are holding a free webinar titled 'Essential knowledge for preventing maternal su***de'. APP's third annual webinar is aimed at frontline health professionals working with families and will outline the actions needed to support and protect women who develop postpartum psychosis.

The webinar will be delivered in collaboration with The National Centre for Mental Health at Cardiff University and General Practitioners Championing Perinatal Mental Health Care, and will include talks from APP's clinical, academic and lived experience experts.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday 8th October at 12pm. Book your free place here: https://bookwhen.com/actiononpp/e/ev-svf4-20251008120000

Furthermore, Lipoedema UK is collaborating with The Royal Society of Medicine to raise awareness of lipoedema through their online series 'Medicine and Me'. On Tuesday 16th September at 2pm, they are hosting a free online webinar which covers three main topics - understanding lipoedema, lipoedema management in primary care, and liposuction in lipoedema.

The event will have insights from international experts as well as patient voices, with a host of speakers discussing diagnosis and management of lipoedema. Book your free ticket here: https://www.rsm.ac.uk/events/medicine-and-me/2024-25/mmt05/

11/09/2025

The RCM has just published an exciting opportunity to join MIDIRS as an Information Librarian🎉

This full-time role is based at our office in Bristol, with opportunity to also work from home.

You will work closely with Information Librarian colleagues, other members of the MIDIRS team, subscribers, RCM users and other beneficiaries. Your role will include:
- Meeting the evidence-based information service needs of staff, subscribers and other beneficiaries by providing a high-quality library and information service.
- Cataloguing, abstracting and indexing material for the Maternity and Infant Care bibliographic database.
- Undertaking literature searches and dealing with enquiries as required.
- Compiling and distributing weekly research round-ups.

The closing date for applications is the 24th of September.

Head to the link below to read through the full job specification and apply for the role.📚

https://rcm.org.uk/vacancies/information-librarian-midirs/