05 May 2021
Today is International Day of the Midwife which celebrates all the work midwives and maternity staff have provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Jersey maternity care team has recently set-up a Public Health Partnership Group with the aim of producing evidence-based health promotion, health protection and ill-health prevention literature. The group has island wide membership from government to non-government agencies, the Public Health Team, charities and dedicated people who lead in the fields of public health.
Head of Midwifery in Jersey, Dana Scott said: "Over the past year, midwives, maternity support workers and student midwives have met extraordinary circumstances to provide excellent care to women and their families. We look forward to coming together as a global midwifery community to advocate for investment in quality midwifery care around the world, improving sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health in the process."
"We aim to provide women with facts so they can make informed choices regarding their maternity care and lifestyle choices in pregnancy. This is a massive improvement on 2020 when the pandemic interrupted the homebirth services and we had a year total of 17 women birthing their babies at home."
"I am very proud of the dedicated staff we have here in Jersey, and we are all dedicated to making the voice of women and children heard on the Island."
Islanders will be able to access evidenced-based literature and be signposted to relevant services for additional support and advice via the women's health, pregnancy, birth and beyond website that is currently under review.
In addition, the Community Midwifery team have also been exceptionally busy this year with homebirths, which recommenced in line with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. This year, the Community midwives have already supported 17 women to have their babies at home.
To mark International Day of the Midwife, Jersey midwifery staff have arranged a day of activities to demonstrate the support and investment in the staff and team. These activities include a sponsored walk throughout May, a competition to predict the total numbers of babies born in May, a talk on energy medicine and renewing your health, and a socially distanced tea and cake party.
Monies raised will go to a chosen charity as well as midwifery activities in conjunction with the Royal College of Midwives.
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