Heart Beat

January 21 – Corby, Bournemouth and Boston are among towns that have seen staggering increases in birth-rates this century, midwives warned today. Baby numbers in the towns have surged as England experiences its highest numbers of births in 40 years. Last year some 688,120 babies were born in England and the first six months of [...]

May 17 – Health visitors are to be trained to detect post-natal depression, it was announced yesterday. They will also work with midwives to provide “expert joined up” care focusing on the emotional well-being of new parents, it was announced. There will also be monitoring of how the service cares for parents who have lost [...]

April 5 – Training on the management of shoulder dystocia should extend to all maternity staff, say new guidelines published yesterday. The condition occurs when one of the baby’s shoulders becomes stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone during childbirth, preventing the birth from proceeding. The baby may have extensive arm damage or even die. Problems [...]

March 15 – Women are being set “idealistic and unhelpful” targets for breast-feeding, researchers say today. Globally, women are encouraged to keep babies using the breast for at least six months. A study in Scotland, UK, says there is a gap between the ideal – which many women set out to achieve – and the [...]

November 15 – Dads are set to be told more about how they can care for the mothers of their children after birth, it was announced today. Midwives and hospitals are to be encouraged to tell fathers about issues such as post-natal depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a new guide. Surveys of mothers [...]