Decision-making During Birth in Midwife-led Units

The research team will present headline results of a new National Institute for Health Research funded study of face-to-face interactions in two English NHS midwife-led units using video and audio recordings of births captured in real time. We show that despite midwives’ intentions to engage women in decisions, in actuality they initiated the majority of decisions and in formats that did not invite participation (beyond consenting). We ask why this is the case and how it could be different.

This free event will include short research presentations, a video of findings about pain relief created by Progress Theatre and extensive opportunity for discussion and questions, as well as some practical activity using the recordings of birth from the research.

Who is the event for?

The morning session is intended for a wide audience of people involved in or interested in improving how decision-making takes place between practitioners and women in midwife-led care. This includes midwives and other healthcare practitioners, policy makers, maternity support groups.

The afternoon session is a practical training event intended for midwives, midwifery students, and maternity care stakeholders. To conclude the day, we will invite the audience to discuss how this type of work could be useful in their practice.

You can book to join for the full day or just for the morning session (with lunch)

Date: Wednesday 8th February 2023

Time:

Full day: 10.30 – 16.00 (coffee and refreshments available from 10.00am)

Morning only: 10:30 to 13:30 (lunch will be provided from 12:45)

Place: Senate House, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HU

Who should attend: midwives, midwifery students, educators, policy makers and maternity care stakeholders.

This event is funded by the NIHR and free to participants (but places are limited so we ask only those who are confident that they will actually attend to register). Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Please enter the date in your diary.

Places are limited and will be offered on a first come first serve basis.

Please only sign-up if you are confident that you will be able to attend. This is because this event is publicly funded by the NIHR and we want to make sure that this financial investment is not wasted.

Host or Publisher Department of Sociology (Uni of York)