A large group of hospital and community midwives came together at a midwifery symposium in York to “share learning and expertise”.
The 38 midwives who attended are based from across the Humber and North Yorkshire region and ranged from those who are relatively new to the profession, to some with around 40 years’ service.
They were joined at the LNER Stadium by university midwifery lecturers and representatives from the area’s maternity and neonatal voices partnership.
The symposium was sponsored by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board’s Director of Midwifery, Heather McNair.
The Humber and North Yorkshire ICB area has more than 13,000 births every year, meaning this was a “hugely valuable room of different skills and resources coming together”.
Sallie Ward, Lead Midwife from the Local Maternity and Neonatal System, said: “Keeping our skills fresh and grounded in evidence is vital.
“By sharing knowledge and experience, we’re not only supporting each other as professionals, we’re also ensuring that mums, partners and families, have the best possible experience and outcomes.”
The agenda for the symposium focused on strengthening core midwifery skills and promoting physiological birth.
Sessions included reflections on personal practice, evidence-based approaches to active birth, and strategies for supporting birth choice and midwifery-led care.
Workshops led by Anna Byrom from All4Maternity explored the importance of movement and positioning during labour, reconnecting with the purpose of midwifery, and creating environments that support natural birth.
Other sessions covered the transitional stage of labour and the use of water birth following caesarean section, with insights from Sophie Keely, a midwife in York and midwives from the Fatima Allam birth Centre.
The event also featured market stalls from Lansinoh, the Royal College of Midwives, and information regarding the safe learning environment charter and labour ward coordinators framework, offering resources and networking opportunities to support continued professional development.