‘The grief is all engulfing’: Each day in Britain, 17 babies are stillborn – why is the toll so high?

 Britain has one of the very worst incidences of stillbirths of all developed countries. Ranking 32nd out of 35 countries, with a rate of 3.5 deaths per 1,000 births. 

Road to Durban: The world needs midwives more than ever

Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh

The scene outside the stadium mirrored a celebratory atmosphere as some 1,000 midwives from 103 countries gathered on a warm Durban winter day cheering for a common cause: The world needs more midwives.

Nepal Midwife Wins Jhpiego’s International Award for Outstanding Contribution to Midwifery

Nepal

Jhpiego presents the International Award for Outstanding Contribution to Midwifery to Nepal’s Maiya Manandhar, a role model for providing services to women.

Midwife burnout poses threat to reducing maternal mortality

Malawi

Midwives are overworked and underpaid, but a study focusing on midwifery will be a vital tool in helping to tackle the problems.

Families sue Ugandan government over women’s deaths in childbirth

Uganda

The families of two women who died following obstructed labour begin an historic legal action today, in a bid to force the Ugandan government to tackle the shortages of doctors and midwives, drug stock-outs and absence of emergency transport that kill 16 women a day.

Midwife Q&A: Are We Having Babies All Wrong?

Ina May Gaskin started delivering babies in 1970 while on a hippie cross-country trip known as the caravan. She had no medical training, just a master’s degree in English and a gut feeling that women deserved kinder, gentler births…

Delivering safe childbirth in Afghanistan

Afghanistan

More women die in childbirth in Afghanistan than anywhere else in the world. Global attention since 9/11 has led to more desperately needed midwives – will that change as troops pull out?

The main causes of maternal death in Nigeria can be avoided

Nigeria

Northern Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be an expectant mother. Women who have had pre-natal care have a much better chance of delivering their babies safely

Libya conflict blamed for rise in miscarriages, pregnancy complications

The shortage of skilled professionals in Libya is rising due to ongoing conflict. Read more about mothers and their babies at increased risk.

Get men in the delivery room, say Bangladesh’s first midwives

Bangladesh

One-in-500 women die in childbirth in Bangladesh – with cultural factors as much to blame as a lack of medical care.