Women's choices about pregnancy and birth, subsequent to a traumatic birth.
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Women's Health
Abstract
My research investigates the choices pregnant women make when they have previously had a traumatic birth. It is relevant to academics working in midwifery education, obstetrics, social policy, psychology, and sociology, and has implications for midwives and obstetricians in practice. This fellowship will enable me to publicise the findings of my research, and to carry out a small study into an issue which arose during my doctoral research.
Traumatic birth is an emerging area of research. Up to 30% of women in the UK experience childbirth as a traumatic event, with many going on to experience some form of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth (Slade, 2006; Ayers, 2014). Research does exist into why some women experience childbirth as traumatic, and how it can be treated, but there was no research into how a traumatic birth might affect the choices women made in subsequent pregnancies. My research showed that these women might make less usual birth choices, from elective caesarean births to 'freebirths' (choosing to birth without a midwife or other medical professional present), and that they researched these choices very carefully. It also showed that these women benefitted from certain kinds of care, including continuity of carer, and making a birth plan early in their pregnancy.
To reach the largest audience, I will publish my findings in three ways - through peer reviewed articles, at conferences, and in publications aimed at a lay audience. The themes of the articles and conference presentations will be related:
- Birth plans for women who have previously had a traumatic birth
- Relationships between women and midwives after a traumatic birth
The journals that I publish my articles in and the conferences I present my findings at will be chosen to create the biggest impact possible, and to cross academic disciplines. My research also used an unusual methodology, and a further article about how I dealt with the challenges of this will be published.
The triennial International Midwives Confederation (ICM) conference is in summer 2020. The 2017 ICM conference was attended by over 4,500 people, from 113 countries. I will apply to run a workshop developing midwives skills in working with women affected by traumatic births, creating a great opportunity for my research to achieve a high impact.
As well as publicising my findings to academics and professionals, I want to tell parents what I found. I will reach a wide audience of parents by using social media (for example Facebook and Twitter), and by writing a blog about my research. During the fellowship I will also draft some early plans for a book for parents, about pregnancy and birth after a previous traumatic birth.
One purpose of this bridging Fellowship is to enable me to move into a post-doctoral academic career, and I would therefore develop external funding proposals during the fellowship. At this time I am interested in developing proposals relating to the areas of:
- Lesbian women's experiences of traumatic birth
- Freebirth
- Independent Midwifery
In my doctoral research, three women considered 'freebirthing' (birthing without a midwife present). There has been a recent surge in media attention to freebirth, but no UK-wide data is collected. Adding to the confusion, the term is sometimes used to refer to situations where:
- women choose not to have a midwife present
- women want a midwife, but an appropriate service is not available
- misjudgements of services required (for example when a baby is born before the arrival of a midwife at home, or where a baby is born enroute to a hospital).
As part of this fellowship I would design and carry out a scoping review to identify the most pressing questions that research could answer about 'freebirth'. This review would also include defining the term 'freebirth', distinguishing the different reasons women might give birth without a midwife.
Traumatic birth is an emerging area of research. Up to 30% of women in the UK experience childbirth as a traumatic event, with many going on to experience some form of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth (Slade, 2006; Ayers, 2014). Research does exist into why some women experience childbirth as traumatic, and how it can be treated, but there was no research into how a traumatic birth might affect the choices women made in subsequent pregnancies. My research showed that these women might make less usual birth choices, from elective caesarean births to 'freebirths' (choosing to birth without a midwife or other medical professional present), and that they researched these choices very carefully. It also showed that these women benefitted from certain kinds of care, including continuity of carer, and making a birth plan early in their pregnancy.
To reach the largest audience, I will publish my findings in three ways - through peer reviewed articles, at conferences, and in publications aimed at a lay audience. The themes of the articles and conference presentations will be related:
- Birth plans for women who have previously had a traumatic birth
- Relationships between women and midwives after a traumatic birth
The journals that I publish my articles in and the conferences I present my findings at will be chosen to create the biggest impact possible, and to cross academic disciplines. My research also used an unusual methodology, and a further article about how I dealt with the challenges of this will be published.
The triennial International Midwives Confederation (ICM) conference is in summer 2020. The 2017 ICM conference was attended by over 4,500 people, from 113 countries. I will apply to run a workshop developing midwives skills in working with women affected by traumatic births, creating a great opportunity for my research to achieve a high impact.
As well as publicising my findings to academics and professionals, I want to tell parents what I found. I will reach a wide audience of parents by using social media (for example Facebook and Twitter), and by writing a blog about my research. During the fellowship I will also draft some early plans for a book for parents, about pregnancy and birth after a previous traumatic birth.
One purpose of this bridging Fellowship is to enable me to move into a post-doctoral academic career, and I would therefore develop external funding proposals during the fellowship. At this time I am interested in developing proposals relating to the areas of:
- Lesbian women's experiences of traumatic birth
- Freebirth
- Independent Midwifery
In my doctoral research, three women considered 'freebirthing' (birthing without a midwife present). There has been a recent surge in media attention to freebirth, but no UK-wide data is collected. Adding to the confusion, the term is sometimes used to refer to situations where:
- women choose not to have a midwife present
- women want a midwife, but an appropriate service is not available
- misjudgements of services required (for example when a baby is born before the arrival of a midwife at home, or where a baby is born enroute to a hospital).
As part of this fellowship I would design and carry out a scoping review to identify the most pressing questions that research could answer about 'freebirth'. This review would also include defining the term 'freebirth', distinguishing the different reasons women might give birth without a midwife.
Organisations
- King's College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Midwifery Unit Network (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- Royal College of Midwives (Collaboration)
- National Institute for Health Research (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR) (Collaboration)
- Manchester University (Collaboration)
- Royal Society of Medicine (Collaboration)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University of Central Lancashire (Collaboration)
- Liverpool John Moores University (Collaboration)
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (Collaboration)
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- University of Huddersfield (Collaboration, Fellow)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS (Collaboration)
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Anne-Mari Greenfield (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Darwin Z
(2019)
Mothers and others: The invisibility of LGBTQ people in reproductive and infant psychology
in Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology
Darwin Z
(2022)
Gestational and non-gestational parents: challenging assumptions.
in Journal of reproductive and infant psychology
Greenfield M
(2019)
Empowering Decision-Making in Midwifery A Global Perspective
Greenfield M
(2019)
"It Can't Be Like Last Time" - Choices Made in Early Pregnancy by Women Who Have Previously Experienced a Traumatic Birth
in Frontiers in Psychology
Greenfield M
(2022)
We Aren't Over The Rainbow Yet: A Research Review Examining LGBTQ+ Families' Experiences In Perinatal Care Services
in The Student Midwife
Greenfield M
(2019)
How pregnancy can be made more difficult by maternity care's notions of 'normal'
in The Conversation
Greenfield M
(2021)
Trans and non-binary pregnancy, traumatic birth, and perinatal mental health: a scoping review.
in International journal of transgender health
Greenfield M
(2020)
Trans pregnancy, traumatic birth and perinatal mental health: Scoping review
Greenfield M
(2020)
Birthing Outside the System: The Canary in the Coal Mine. A book review
Description | In the early days of the pandemic, parents' views of maternity services changed from being places of safety to being places that were unsafe, unclear and unpredictable. A significant number of parents considered 'freebirth' (birthing with no medical professional present) because of the pandemic. Lesbian, bisexual and pansexual women were more likely than their heterosexual peers to consider freebirth. Sexual minority women and younger women reported differential rates of perinatal anxiety to their heterosexual or older peers. |
Exploitation Route | It may inform maternity service provision in the future. It also reveals a potential research gap, as the relationship between sexual orientation and freebirth and sexual orientation and perinatal mental health rates have never been studied before. |
Sectors | Healthcare |
Description | The research has been cited by Healthcare Scotland as an example of good practice. Meetings have been held with Maternity Voices' Partnerships (MVPs) for some NHS Trusts. Findings from that area have been fed directly to the MVPs so that they can inform local policies. The 'freebirth' findings have been extensively quoted in an article in The Guardian newspaper and by the BBC. The unexpected findings of differential rates of perinatal anxiety amongst sexual minority women has led to the 'Pride in Birth' podcast series being commissioned by Pinter and Martin Radio, and has influenced demographic data collection about gender and sexual orientation in three NHS Trusts, and several large research projects. |
First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
Sector | Healthcare |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | Delivering invited Public Health England workshop |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Introduction of new perinatal demographic monitoring, shifts in language and policies |
Description | National Maternity and Perinatal Audit - NHS Maternity care for women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | The guidance will shape clinical conversations with pregnant women whose BMI>30 in relation to the morbidity and mortality rates of perinatal interventions |
URL | https://www.hqip.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Ref-279-NMPA-BMI-Over-30-Report-FINAL.pdf |
Description | Research methods published as a case study by Healthcare Improvement Scotland |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or Improved professional practice |
URL | https://www.hisengage.scot/equipping-professionals/engaging-differently/examples/covid-pregnancy/ |
Description | Development Workshop grant |
Amount | £1,125 (GBP) |
Organisation | Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology (SRIP) |
Sector | Learned Society |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2021 |
End | 07/2022 |
Description | Development Workshop grant |
Amount | £1,500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology (SRIP) |
Sector | Learned Society |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2022 |
End | 09/2022 |
Description | ESRC Festival of Social Science Award |
Amount | £1,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2020 |
End | 12/2020 |
Description | Equality and Diversity Impact |
Amount | £300 (GBP) |
Organisation | King's College London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2022 |
End | 04/2022 |
Description | Festival of Social Sciences |
Amount | £1,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2020 |
End | 12/2020 |
Description | Impact Acceleration Account |
Amount | £14,927 (GBP) |
Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2022 |
End | 04/2023 |
Description | Parent and Carer's Fund |
Amount | £5,790 (GBP) |
Organisation | King's College London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2022 |
End | 07/2022 |
Title | New and Expectant Parents' Experiences during the First UK Lockdown, 2020 |
Description | This collection contains the documentation and raw anonymised data from 1,754 parents whose babies were born/due to be born during the first three months of the UK lockdown. The raw data includes demographic data, psychometric scores, and responses to open ended questions about changes to the perinatal experience. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | See publications |
URL | https://reshare.ukdataservice.ac.uk/855852/ |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR) |
Department | Born in Bradford |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | Durham University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust |
Department | Guy’s and St Thomas’ Kidney Patients' Association (GSTT KPA) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Hospitals |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | Liverpool John Moores University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | Manchester University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | Midwifery Unit Network |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | Royal College of Midwives |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | Royal Society of Medicine |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | University College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Department | Cambridge University Library |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | University of Central Lancashire |
Department | Maternal and Infant Nutrition Unit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | University of Huddersfield |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PIVOT-AL |
Organisation | University of Liverpool |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The PIVOT-AL collaboration is a national network of researchers examining perinatal and child health during the pandemic, working with representatives from RCOG, NMC, and NHS England. I have assisted in the organising of one national event, and am currently working to create a second, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Medicine. |
Collaborator Contribution | PIVOT-AL is led by Professor Downe from UCLAN. Collaboration includes sharing of data, findings, joint publications, and negotiated access to senior policymakers to advise on service recovery and reshaping. |
Impact | Two national stakeholder events have taken place, with further events planned for May and September 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | South London ARC adoption of project |
Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
Department | NIHR CLAHRC for South London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | My project has been adopted by the ARC, allowing access to data and facilitating co-production of resources |
Collaborator Contribution | Adoption has facilitated co-production of publications, and given access to ARC resources and development opportunities |
Impact | Freebirth article in Frontiers, Guardian, and BBC |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | 'Did Covid-19 change where people wanted to give birth?' Royal College of Obstetricians and Gyanecologists conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presented at the 2021 RCOG conference 'Improving the Quality of Women's Health Care'. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/4XDB-6M6/improving-the-quality-of-womens-health-care |
Description | Becoming a mother without support during Covid-19 - IAMAS conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presented 'freebirth' data to the IAMAS international conference, Caring About Mothers Before, During, and After Covid |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://iamas.com/events/#!event/2020/5/1/iamas-conference |
Description | Becoming a parent in lockdown |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
Results and Impact | A half day workshop, aimed at new parents, midwives, obstetricians, student midwives and obstetricians, doulas and other birth workers. Reported the early findings from my research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://festivalofsocialscience.com/events/becoming-a-parent-during-lockdown/ |
Description | Doula UK conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | Gave presentation to Doula UK members entitled 'How to support clients in a pregnancy following a traumatic birth' |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://doula.org.uk/doula-uk-conference-2022/ |
Description | Freebirth: 'Giving birth without medical help felt safer' - Interview with BBC |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I gave an interview to the BBC about freebirth rates during the pandemic |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-60023618 |
Description | Guest blog post for Durham University's Obstetric Violence series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Published two invited blogs posts for Durham University's Obstetric Violence blog, one about the lack of appropriate policy consideration in perinatal services for non-gestational lesbian mothers who were the sole/main breastfeeding mother during Covid, the other about the iatrogenic harm of binary divisions of sex and gender in maternity services. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/ethics-law-life-sciences/about-us/news/obst... |
Description | Informing a newspaper article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | I worked with a freelance journalist to help her understand and report on my research findings. This included multiple interviews and a number of emails. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/dec/05/women-give-birth-alone-the-rise-of-freebirthing |
Description | Perinatal care for LGBTQ+ people - What do we know? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited guest lecture for third year midwifery students at King's College, London |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Presentation at 'Trans Awareness Week 2021 - Towards Health Equity' organised by KCL Students' Union |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Presented information about the perinatal care needs of trans men and non-binary people as part of Trans Awareness week. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.kclsu.org/taw/ |
Description | Pride in Birth podcast series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Pride in Birth brings together for the first time the academic and medical research about LGBTQ+ people's experiences of conception, pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. In each episode, Mari will talk to a different researcher, finding out what question about LGBTQ+ pregnancy they were asking, how they went about finding answers, and what they discovered. Guests include professors, obstetricians, midwives, psychiatrists and academic researchers. The podcast will explain some of the issues LGBTQ+ people face when they start a family, helping to reduce isolation amongst LGBT+ new and expectant parents, and aiming to help those caring for them to improve the services they provide. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | http://www.pinterandmartin.radio/pride-in-birth.html |
Description | Queer Birth workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A workshop reporting the current research about LGBTQ+ perinatal care |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/queer-birth-what-does-the-research-say-about-lgbtq-pregnancy-and-birt... |