11.12 Contemporary strategies to support women during labour

In this session we are exploring contemporary midwifery care during labour. This includes a presentation on the use of sterile water injections during labour, and labour aromatherapy. We will explore the impact of the NICE guidelines, the forthcoming RCM guidelines and the recent CQC and Ockenden reviews, and consider how best to inform and support women and their families. Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifery Sterile Water Injections during labour Wendy Randall, Head of Midwifery, West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals Trust Aromatherapy in Labour: an update Dr Denise Tiran, CEO/Education Director, Expectancy; Visiting Professor, Qingdao Huikang School of Midwifery Shanghai Wendy Randall Wendy is dual registered as a nurse and midwife with a Master’s degree in Public Health and Leadership. In her capacity as a midwife, she has worked in the different remits of a midwife both in primary and secondary care. Prior to her role as Head of Midwifery, Wendy was a consultant midwife for 10 years including a secondment as the consultant midwife lead for the RCM in the Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth programme. Wendy has been recognised nationally for Intelligent Intermittent Auscultation and its contribution to midwifery education and safety. She is passionate about the value of multi-professional team working and education to improve the safety and experience of women and their families through their journey to parenthood. Dr Denise Tiran Dr Denise Tiran is an internationally renowned authority on midwifery complementary therapies, having pioneered the subject as a midwifery specialism since the early 1980s. Denise previously worked at the University of Greenwich where, having trained in several therapies, she was given the opportunity to develop the UK’s first practice-based BSc Honours degree in Complementary Therapies. In 2004 she established her own company, Expectancy, which provides a unique range of complementary therapy courses for midwives in the NHS and overseas, as well as a licensing system for midwives wanting to offer therapies in private practice. She has written numerous textbooks, her latest being Complementary Therapies for Postdates Pregnancy (2023) and has revised the last six editions of the Bailliere’s Midwives’ Dictionary. Denise was awarded an honorary Doctorate by the University of Greenwich in 2020 and a prestigious Fellowship from the RCM in 2018 in recognition of her work. She has written four RCM Position Statements on complementary therapies and earlier this year was commissioned by the RCM to write new Guidelines for Midwives using Complementary Therapies, due to be published imminently. Supported by MATFLIX: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://matflix.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Register to watch the next episode LIVE or attend a Maternity & Midwifery Festival: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mmf.eventbrite.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch the live stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/midwiferyforum/live