22 April 2010
New research suggests that leaving babies to cry to ‘teach’ them to go to sleep on their own may do more harm than good. Long bouts of crying release high levels of the stress hormone Cortisol, which can be toxic to brain tissue.

20th February 2010
Independent Midwives UK have organised a march to Whitehall on Sunday 7th March 2010 to deliver a petition to the Health Minister and letters to the Prime Minister on the state of the maternity services. 1pm Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, Lambeth Road, London SE1 4EQ (next to Imperial War Museum).

5th November 2009
The Department of Health has issued new Neonatal Care guidelines designed to improve care for premature and sick babies in NHS hospitals.

25 March 2009
Here’s a study that recognises what mothers and midwives have known for years – that is is perfectly safe to eat whilst in labour. The study at Kings College London compared the birth experiences of over 2400 women and found that those eating food had the same rate of caesareans, the same newborn outcomes, and the same normal birth rate as those confined to drinking water through labour. Interestingly the group who ate in labour had on average a 15-minute shorter labour. And somewhat alarmingly, in both groups the ‘normal’ birth rate was a mere 44%!

21 December 2008
Here’s some good news for pregnant women’s finances – the new Health in Pregnancy Grant (HiPG) is on its way. From April 2009, almost every pregnant woman in the UK will be eligible for the HiPG. This one-off payment of £190 will be available from the 25th week of pregnancy. It’s meant to support the health and well-being of women in later pregnancy, and to help them meet costs in the run up to birth.