Press Coverage 25th – 31st August

Croydon Post. Operation saves baby, NCT thanked: http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/health/Exclusive-Hole-heart-saves-baby-s-life/article-294711-detail/article.html

Think Baby. What is an episiotomy? NCT mentioned: http://www.thinkbaby.co.uk/news/article/mps/uan/1894

Take a Break. Breastfeeding, NCT mentioned: http://rss.precise-media.co.uk/email/NationalChildbirthTrust/39538748.pdf

Youngbromley.info. NCT general info: http://www.youngbromley.info/YoungBromley/Relationships/Pregnancy/OrgDetails.htm?orgid=1519&OrgName=National%20Childbirth%20Trust%20-%20Biggin%20Hill%20and%20District

Hemel Today. Tea party: http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/todays/Play-to-the-beat.4418539.jp

Spenborough Guardian. Nearly New Sale: http://www.spenboroughguardian.co.uk/community-news/Declutter-the-toy-cupboard.4413737.jp

Henley Standard. Nearly new sale: http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=475639

Red Orbit. First time mothers accept greater risks for natural births. http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1534024/firsttime_mothers_accept_greater_risks_for_natural_births/index.html

Press Coverage 11th – 17th August

One Green Bottle. Bisphenol A in bottles: http://www.pressdispensary.co.uk/releases/c991872/One-Green-Bottle-Can-Improve-Health,-Reduce-Landfill-and-Save-our-Seas-.php

Somerset Guardian. Fundraising events in local area: http://www.thisissomersetguardian.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=217681&command=displayContent&sourceNode=218382&contentPK=21235991

Malvern Gazette. Tea Party: http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/news/local/3577469.Monkey_tea_party_is_a_great_success/

Press Coverage 4th – 10th August

Independent. Financial planning during pregnancy: http://www.independent.co.uk/money/invest-save/the-babys-on-the-way-now-for-some-financial-family-planning-883607.html

Daily Mail (Health) Pregorexia, dieting during pregnancy: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1041605/Plague-pregorexics-How-women-dieting-exercising-pregnancy-cost-babys-health.html

HR Zone. NCT Survey: http://www.hrzone.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=186923&d=1064&h=387&f=388&dateformat=%25o%20%25B%20%25Y

Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. Centre a helping hand for parents: http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/headlines/display.var.2413910.0.centre_is_a_helping_hand_for_parents.php

Midwifery Today. Summer 2008 issue. Choices of birthplace.

Coventry Telegraph. World Breastfeeding Awareness week annual event by 3 NCT students: http://cv5.coventrytelegraph.net/2008/08/support-needed-for-breastfeedi.html

The Sun. Rosie Dodds quoted on “Pregorexic”: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/health/fit_squad/article1517792.ece

Midwifery Digest. Mums going back to work survey: http://www.midirs.org/midirs/midweb1.nsf/Z45/2DD60FAA1E9A30C4802574970050DB72

Malvern Gazette. Tea Party: http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/news/local/3577469.Monkey_tea_party_is_a_great_success/

Independent Review of maternity services commissioned in Area Antrim

MLA Mrs I Robinson (DUP) has asked a number of questions of the Minister for Health Social Services and Public Safety, Mr McGimpsey regarding the measures being taken following the deaths of two babies at Antrim Area Hospital. The Minister responded saying that an independent review of maternity services in the area had been commissioned to identify any necessary action required to ensure the safety of maternity services. In addition Mr McGimpsey said that he was considering the implementation of the NICE intrapartum care guideline, published last September, in Northern Ireland. Mrs Robinson also questioned the Minister on the revised training for midwives in the use electronic foetal monitoring following the deaths. The Minister responded stating that across all five trusts in Northern Ireland midwives are trained annually in electronic foetal monitoring.  Finally Mrs Robinson asked how many babies had died in midwifery-led services in the last five years but this information was unavailable.

Health Visiting provision

Green MSP Robin Harper has lodged a Scottish Parliament Motion urging the Minister for Children and Early Years and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing to work together to strengthen and expand universal health visitor provision for all families in Scotland. The motion was lodged in response to a breifing published by Children 1st entitled “Policy priorities forimproving the wellbeing of Scotland’s most vulnerable children and their families.

Government invests £2 million to help breastfeeding

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo has announced an extra £2 million to be invested to help more women in England breastfeed. The extra funding will help improve the UK’s breastfeeding rate that is among the lowest in Europe, and in particular help mums in deprived areas. The extra funding will help support hospitals in disadvantaged areas to achieve Unicef Baby-Friendly Status, a set of best practice standards for maternity units and community services on improving practice to promote, protect and support breastfeeding.

The Department of Health launches the new Pregnancy Care Planner

Earlier this week the Department of Health launched its new Pregnancy and Birth Planner, a new online resource for parents and expectant parents providing information and advice on all aspects of pregnancy, from getting pregnant, early pregnancy, the scans, to the birth, and comparative guides to what is on offer at local maternity units. The Pregnancy and Birth Planner can be accessed by visiting http://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy.