Ep 95 2025 Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM), a 24-hour FREE ONLINE CONFERENCE wrap up

Ep 95 (http://ibit.ly/Re5V) 2025 Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM), a 24-hour FREE ONLINE CONFERENCE wrap up

@PhDMidwives #research #midwifery @VIDofM #VIDM2025 @ICM 

program  - vidm.org

recordings  - YouTube @VirtualMidwives

The global midwifery community came together in an extraordinary display of connection, solidarity, and knowledge exchange during the Virtual International Day of the Midwife 2025. With participation spanning 57 countries and content delivered continuously over 24 hours, this barrier-breaking event showcased the diversity, resilience, and innovation driving midwifery care worldwide.

At its heart, VIDM2025 celebrated the power of professional relationships.  The evidence was clear – midwives thrive when supported by strong professional networks, with positive ripple effects extending to maternal and newborn outcomes. This theme of connection wove throughout the conference, from Bangladesh's peer mentoring program for midwifery educators to collaborative frameworks addressing workplace abuse.

Cultural responsiveness emerged as a crucial component of effective care, with several presentations examining how midwives navigate cross-cultural interactions.  These presentations confronted uncomfortable truths about racism and cultural misconceptions in healthcare while offering practical pathways toward more equitable care.

The conference showcased remarkable resilience in challenging circumstances, perhaps most powerfully demonstrated by Afghan midwives who've created online education programs in response to Taliban bans on women's higher education. This determination to preserve midwifery knowledge despite extreme adversity spoke volumes about the profession's commitment to women's health against all odds.

Clinical innovation flourished throughout the program, from Ethiopia's successful implementation of midwifery-led pelvic floor training to Ireland's Labour Hopscotch tool that significantly reduced intervention rates. Presentations on artificial intelligence applications, water birth perceptions in Nigeria, and acupressure for labor induction demonstrated midwifery's embrace of both traditional wisdom and cutting-edge approaches.

 Kate Greenstock beautifully captured the conference's spirit with her message about "flourishing in heartbreak and hope." Her insights on staying connected to purpose while facing healthcare challenges resonated deeply, as reflected in the word cloud where "empowered" emerged as participants' strongest feeling when connecting with fellow midwives.

Whether you're seeking evidence-based clinical approaches, strategies for professional sustainability, or inspiration from global midwifery leaders, the recordings available on YouTube (search "Virtual Midwives") from July onwards offer an invaluable resource. Experience the global midwifery community's collective wisdom and discover how connection strengthens our profession worldwide.

Transcript

Conference Introduction and Overview

Speaker 1 0:00

And welcome to the recap of the Virtual International Day of the Midwife 2025 Conference . If you go to vidmorg , you'll find the whole program and the blurb and bios . However , if you go to YouTube and look at Virtual Midwives , you will see all of the recordings of every session from July onwards . The committee are madly working behind the scenes to get them all up onto the YouTube , but as volunteers , they have to fit it in between all of their other life as well , but by July all of the recordings will be there so you can re-watch , catch the ones you miss or share your own for others to see . So let's go through a recap . So we started off with the keynote from the Quality Maternal and Newborn Care Research Alliance , and they're looking at how they transform global knowledge and address fundamental questions , especially for the voices who don't get heard enough in low and middle-income countries , and so they're wanting to foster international partnerships with researchers and clinicians and advocates and policymakers to try and have equitable participation in knowledge creation and dissemination , and they are calling out for members always willing to learn and join , and you can check their web page out as well . Next we had Linnell , and she was how do professional connections and relationships impact midwives well-being and career sustainability , and she presented her preliminary findings on this issue , which stated that her emerging findings highlighted the importance , value and protective nature of professional connections

Midwifery Knowledge and Global Partnerships

Speaker 1 1:59

for midwives , as well as the vulnerabilities that form in their absence . So she collected this data from a range of midwives across various career stages , and the strength of midwifery relationships and connections is intrinsic to their sustainability and wellbeing . Their participants commented on how the absence of a connection in midwifery was taking a personal and professional toll and resulting in psychological and physical impacts , such as feelings of disconnection , disillusionment , isolation , fear and dread , all of which have strong correlations with absenteeism , reduction of shifts and attrition . However , those participants who experienced a practice environment that supports and values professional connections and relationships reported higher levels of professional satisfaction , collaborative , interdisciplinary teams , role understanding , autonomy , trust and support to practice within their full midwifery scope , thus continuing to develop professionally and explore diverse career paths in midwifery . So we need to have these connections , and she talks about how this is really important to sustain midwifery , but also the psychological and physical well-being .

Speaker 1 3:17

Then we had our first keynote Midwifery Reaching Back and Moving Forward , and that was from Jessica Brumley , and she looked at the critical role of maternal and newborn care throughout our history , yet its integration into the healthcare system has been marked by challenges and transformation . Her presentation explored the historical trajectory of midwifery . The current landscape highlights a growing recognition of midwifery benefits , including improved maternal outcomes , reduced interventions and enhanced patient-centred care . Despite this progress , barriers such as restrictive regulations , inconsistent legislative policies and disparities in access persist . So when looking forward , the future of midwifery integration depends on policy reform , interprofessional collaboration and public awareness to strengthen midwives' roles in addressing the maternal health crisis . A strong professional association is critical in advancing the midwifery agenda and strengthening the profession .

Speaker 1 4:18

Then , session four , we had Prima and Carita , and they were the determinants of adverse pregnancy outcomes in adolescents , and so they were looking at a review and they found 15 studies that suited their criteria , and when analysing it , it indicated that adolescent pregnancy substantially associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and affected by factors including inadequate education , psychological and social pressures , low socioeconomic status , poor nutritional health , harmful behaviours during pregnancy , an unfavourable social environment and insufficient antenatal care . And improving health care services for adolescent pregnancy is essential , including the delivery of early sexual education and contraception options . Session five we had Jessie and student midwife support circles connecting with ourselves , each other and the profession , and her objective was to evaluate the student midwifery support circles as a co-curricular peer support activity in a building of a sense of belonging and professional identity and developing emotional awareness . They compared to students who had not attended , and the students who had attended these circles had greater compassion , satisfaction and slightly higher self-efficacy . In addition , attendance significantly improved students' view that support groups reduced stress whilst on placement , improved belonging to the profession and in becoming a better midwife and increased student well-being . The thematic analysis of the open questions confirmed these results and the value of an academic run of the support group was added . Then we had our first Spanish session in session five , a concurrent session looking at post-abortion contraception being vital to reduce unwanted pregnancies and prevent to reduce unwanted pregnancies and prevent maternal mortality .

Professional Connections and Midwife Wellbeing

Speaker 1 6:28

And so they were looking at an observational study where they had 399 women in a Peruvian public hospital who accepted contraceptive methods immediately after abortion , and of these 175 participants were contacted by telephone six months later . So less than 40% of the women continued using the contraceptive method and this was significantly found that age and Venezuelan nationality were statistically significant with the use of contraception methods six months after the abortion .

Speaker 1 7:03

Session six we have Linda talking about maternity care of migrant women from refugee backgrounds , ensuring cultural safety and relevance , and so her project was to explore the cultural significance maternity care experiences of migrant women and to consider ways to improve their care , and that was three focus groups in three different languages . They had 31 women participate or had at least one pregnancy in Australia . The key themes included communication and miscommunication , cultural misconceptions , racism , loss of culture and the desire for continuity of care . All the women found maternity care in Australia generally satisfying and respectful . However , they offered some tangible ideas for improvement . Addressing cultural misconceptions and combating racism within the health care setting is imperative to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for migrant women . Effective communication accommodating linguistic diversity and cultural nuances need to be prioritised . This includes providing interpreter services when needed and employing culturally competent staff who understand the traditions , beliefs and practices of diverse communities .

Speaker 1 8:15

In session seven , we had Fahir and Josie , and they were talking about empowering employed mothers a role of midwives in attaining exclusive breastfeeding by continuity of care , and so they looked at the nutrition of newborns during the initial six months is crucial , and exclusive breastfeeding is advised to fill these , according to the World Health Global Guidelines . They presented a case study examines the continuity of care of a 28 year old woman , a working mother , who dedicated herself to exclusive breastfeeding and talked about the barriers and facilitators in her case study . Ongoing support for family and continuity of care from health professionals are crucial in enabling working women to exclusively breastfeed . Engagement of family members and modifications to workplace policies can enhance the likelihood of successful exclusive breastfeeding . Session eight we had Fatima and looking at the power of vaginal birth after cesarean , essential elements for a safer and enhanced natural birth . So their review identified essential medical , psychological and institutional factors that affect VBAC outcomes . They found 21 peer-reviewed projects . A successful VBAC is often associated with younger maternal age , a prior history of a journal birth , spontaneous onset of labour and adequate cervical dilation at the time of admission . Adequate cervical dilation at the time of admission , psychosocial support , encompassing familial encouragement and guidance from healthcare professionals , significantly influenced decisions regarding VBAC . Hospital policy supporting VBAC and improved access to emergency services have increased success rates . The success empowering natural birth after a caesarean requires a multifaceted approach with a particular focus on medical factors . Equally important are continuous care and fostering a positive mindset , which is essential to achieving a successful natural birth and is supported by midwives , obstetrician and all birth workers .

Speaker 1 10:21

In session nine was another double session and in one of these was malice and he talked about the effects of midwifery led pelvic floor muscle training on prolapse symptoms and healthy health related quality of life . So they wanted to assess whether the effect of midwifery led pelvic floor muscle training on prolapse symptoms and quality of life among women with mild to moderate prolapse in Ethiopia . This was a community-based parallel two-arm cluster randomized control trial with stages one to three and were looking at intervention group or lifestyle counseling alone and a total of 187 women were randomized 1989 in the intervention , 98 in the control and at six months . The intervention group showed significantly greater improvement than the control group in both prolapse symptoms in physical domain and in the psychological domain , as well and in personal relationships . A significantly higher number of women in the intervention group perceived their condition as better after the intervention . So midwifery-led pelvic floor muscle training combined with lifestyle counselling significantly improved the prolapse symptoms and quality of life in mild to moderate prolapse and this strategy can be integrated into existing maternal and reproductive health programs .

Speaker 1 11:50

The concurrent session of nine was Karita , prima and Hasnul and they were the influence of maternal mental health disorders on pregnancy outcomes and they were reporting the outcome of their scoping review , and their review demonstrated a significant correlation between maternal depression and anxiety with preterm birth , interuterine growth restriction , low birth weight and cesarean delivery . Psychosocial factors , including partner support and stress coping strategies , significantly mitigate these risks . Timely identification and thorough prenatal mental health therapies are essential for enhancing long-term outcomes for infant mums , for mums and infants , I should say . Session 10 was also another concurrent session and in one room we had Red talking about biodynamic midwifery guiding birthing families from fear to love , and she's been a midwife for nearly two decades , working in continuity of care models , and she's found that the word that most relates to her practice is biodynamic midwifery . Fear exploration is such an essential process of the birthing women and also the birthing partner and older sibling , the grandparents , the daughters , whoever will be present and surrounding the mother at the time of birth . Her presentation explored the word biodynamic and introduced the concept of biodynamic

Historical Trajectory of Midwifery

Speaker 1 13:17

periphery , of relational field dynamics and explored how to hold a field of integrity and trust and also an exploration of the role we carry as midwives to help shift a family from fear to love , including practical , applicable tools for self-exploration as well as for use with the families . She explored how this practice is the fastest way to return a mother to their intuition .

Speaker 1 13:44

And in the concurrent room was Bronwyn talking about childbearing experiences of autistic persons in Aotearoa , new Zealand , opportunities and challenges for continuity of care or continuity of carer . So she spoke to 15 autistic people who gave birth in New Zealand between 2012 and 2022 , recruited through social media . Autistic birthing experiences at Te Arawa shares many of the same hallmarks found in international research , including heightened sensory sensitivities and late diagnosis . Participants reported varied benefits from continuity of care models , but also demonstrated significant self-determination in navigating childbearing by prioritising their physical , mental wellbeing or the needs of others during decision-making and support-seeking . Her study highlighted various challenges autistic parents negotiate during childbearing and the transition to parenthood . Midwifery-led continuity care models can ameliorate some challenges , but decision-making was chiefly informed by the participants' awareness of their own physical , mental and domestic needs . The findings will assist in providing provision of enabling empowering care to autistic clients and can improve the morbidity and mortality rates seen in the broader autistic population .

Speaker 1 15:07

In session 11 was another double session and that was Lorodana in acupressure for induction of labour . So acupressure for induction of labour should be an option available to women in childbirth , as it allows them to gain some control of their birth experiences , as well as facilitating a more natural and less medicalised childbirth . Acupressure is a non-invasive technique that can easily be applied by a birthing partner and or midwives , promoting birthing partner involvement . It is considered comfortable , safe and non-painful , potentially reducing the need for pharmacological induction methods . Acupressure can offer increased choice and control . These argue to increase the chances of achieving a physiological birth . This approach may also reduce the cascade of intervention and reduce health costs , and she actually went through the acupressure points , the most commonly used for induction of labour , have a very strong effect on blood flow to the uterus , promoting cervical dilation , increasing the release of prostaglandins and oxytocin , facilitating the production of endorphins , helping the mother to relax , promote physical and emotional well-being .

Speaker 1 16:20

The other session 11 was Keith and Billy and they were talking about midwives' preparation for bereavement care , strengthening connections when supporting families after stillbirth . They did an international cross-sectional survey and of their 127 responses from 14 countries , 87% reported receiving some level of stillbirth education , while 92% had received teaching on stillbirth definitions , only 50% had bereavement care training and just 43% received education on investigations for stillbirth causes . Confidence was highest for defining stillbirth but lowest for bereavement care and investigations . Only 42% felt prepared to support families , with 86% expressing a need for more clinical experiences and 50% wanting more support in accessing psychological services for themselves . Qualitative analysis revealed four themes , including gaps in structured education , disconnection between theoretical and practical knowledge , workplace support deficits and system level barriers to holistic care . They showed that there were significant gaps in midwifery bereavement education . Strengthening curriculum with structured training , greater clinical exposure and workplace support may help in improving care and reducing provider distress . Urgent actions needed to equip midwives with the skill and confidence to support bereaved families .

Speaker 1 17:52

In session 12 , halfway through , we had Eunice and Ridwan talking about neonatal jaundice and NICU care addressing myths , preventions and early interventions . Neonatal Jaundice and NICU Care Addressing Myths , preventions and Early Interventions . Their study explored the impact of cultural belief on neonatal jaundice management , emphasising the critical role of midwives in community education , early diagnosis and timely medical intervention . A review of clinical data , community health reports and maternal health education program highlights the key misconceptions , including the belief that jaundice is harmless and does not require medical attention . The misconception that sunlight exposure alone can cure jaundice , thus delaying hospital visits . And cultural remedies discouraging breastfeeding , leading to dehydration and worsening hyperbilirubinia . To combat these challenges , this study recommended community education challenges to campaigns to promote awareness of neonatal jaundice risks and medical care , midwifery training and engagement to strengthen their roles in addressing myths and guiding caregivers . Integration of traditional and medical practices through collaboration with community leaders .

Cultural Competence and Migrant Care

Speaker 1 19:07

Improving access to phototherapy and neonatal care , especially in the rural areas . Mother-to-mother peer support networks , such as the Wellbeing Foundation , mama Care , whatsapp groups . Policy advocacy for neonatal jaundice , screening programs at birth and early postnatal visits . By addressing misconceptions through midwifery-led education and advocacy , this approach enhances early intervention , reduces neonatal complications and improves health outcomes for vulnerable populations .

Speaker 1 19:38

The other session 12 was Sarah and she spoke about the aura of cultural needs during pregnancy . Sarah and she spoke about the aura of cultural needs during pregnancy . A woman is more likely to die in the UK during pregnancy if she is black . No-transcript Cultural influences on reduced attendance for pregnancy care has been connected to black migrant maternal deaths for 20 years . Her study findings show that migrant black women are not asked about their culture when attending for pregnancy care and they either choose to hide or reveal their culture . A person's culture is colourful and complex , an aura that is visible and invisible . The seen and unseen nature of culture makes it difficult to decipher an individual's needs , as culture may be practised differently depending on the environment and wider society . Culture may influence all aspects of a person's life , including their health-seeking behaviours and healthcare decisions . The missed opportunity to explore migrant women's cultural needs during pregnancy means that most important aspects of their health needs are unexplored and therefore not included in their pregnancy care provision .

Speaker 1 20:52

Next we have session 13 , another double session , and we have Rizka in Collabor approaches to bereavement care . As a bereaved parent , she brought a unique perspective to the essential connections midwives fostered during perinatal loss . Her presentation explored the intersection of family support services , community networks and cultural connections in bereavement care , highlighting how midwives can play a transformative role in these deeply personal and communal experiences . Her session aimed to inspire midwives to recognise the power of connection in their work , ensuring that bereaved families receive compassionate , culturally sensitive and comprehensive holistic support . By embracing these relationships , midwives can help shape healing narratives for families , while fostering a more interconnected approach to care , drawing on lived experiences and collaborative initiatives . The session emphasises the importance of integrated parent voice advocates into bereavement care . These advocates provide crucial insights that help midwives navigate cultural sensitivities , break taboos and create environments of trust and healing . Through personal stories and case studies , they demonstrated how midwives , alongside parents and communities , can foster meaningful connections that promote emotional , spiritual and cultural understanding . Initiatives such as peer support programs and culturally sensitive frameworks offer a pathway for midwives to build bridges between clinical care and the relational aspects of family and community . The concurrent session was Rachel and Linda talking about increasing midwifery leadership a Papua New Guinea buddy program experience .

Speaker 1 22:44

In April 2024 , the fourth group of the Papua New Guinea midwifery leadership buddy program met in Port Moresby . There were 14 PNG and seven Australian midwifery mentors aiming to improve midwifery , maternity and newborn outcomes in Papua New Guinea . This twinning program of the PNG Midwifery Society and the Australian College of Midwives is funded by Rotary and informed by the ICM Member Association Capacity Assessment Tool . Png buddies identified quality improvement projects within their workplaces with the Australian Midwife supporting the development of leadership and advocacy skills for the projects to be completed . Their presentation included one of the buddy relationships and projects which aim to increase the known hemoglobin levels of women assessing antenatal care in a clinic in Port Moresby . It described the importance of having a known hemoglobin and demonstrate the processes , challenges , success and setbacks experienced , and the highlight the importance of resilience and patience . It emphasised how professional midwifery connections and mentorship can provide leadership , improve maternity outcomes and strengthen the role of midwives across countries . Session 14 , another double session . This first one had Erin and Zahara , and they presented a lifeline for learning , advancing Afghan midwifery through online education .

Speaker 1 24:16

In December 2024 , the Taliban banned women from attending midwifery and nursing institutes in Afghanistan , cutting off the last remaining avenue for women's higher education . This policy threatened maternal and newborn health in a country where the maternity mortality rate ratio , at 620 deaths per 100,000 live births , is one of the highest in the world . Afghan midwives are essentially frontline providers , particularly in rural areas . Therefore , sustaining midwifery education is vital to ensuring continued healthcare access for Afghani women and families . In response to this crisis , the Kabul Online Medical University in Ex exile has launched an innovative online midwifery education program . This initiative aims to preserve academic continuity for Afghani midwifery students , sustain their engagement with the midwifery profession and provide a critical lifeline for education and well-being . Their presentation explored the implementation of the online midwifery education initiative . Grounded in Afghan midwifery curriculum and aligned with the ICM essential competencies , the program was delivered by experienced Afghan midwives in Dysphoria . Currently , the program focuses on theory-based courses , while the university explores strategies for safe and effective hands-on learning and clinical experience . Importantly , the program integrates psychosocial support to address the mental health impact of education exclusion . Their session highlighted the challenges , strategies and impact of delivering midwifery education in a highly restrictive environment . We also hope to connect with audience members with experience in blending learning models for midwifery education .

Speaker 1 26:07

Running alongside concurrently to that was Seda and Tuba , and they looked at the relationship between health literacy and health perception quantitative research on future midwives and health perception quantitative research on future midwives . Health literacy is defined as the ability to access , understand and use health information to make informed health-related decisions , while health perception refers to an individual's evaluations of their own health status . Their study examined the relationship between health literacy and health perception among 353 midwifery students in Turkey . Their results highlighted significant correlations between health literacy and health perception , emphasising the importance of improving health literacy to enhance health perception and outcomes among future midwives . The findings that most participants had adequate health literacy and outcomes among future midwives . The findings that most participants had adequate health literacy and positive health perceptions included , such as internet usage and desire to read written material , had significant effects on health literacy and perception . The findings suggest that increasing the health literacy levels of midwifery students can contribute to better health outcomes in the population they will serve . The study underscores the importance of targeted health education strategies in midwifery curricula to strengthen both health literacy and health perception .

Speaker 1 27:34

Session 15 is another double session . Session

Bereavement Care and Education

Speaker 1 27:39

15 is another double session . We had Rizka , and she was talking about integrating primary health services for maternal and child health in Indonesia , strengthening connections . She had a mixed method approach across 10 primary health care facilities in urban and rural Indonesia . Their findings revealed a significant increase in antenatal and postnatal visits and improved continuity of care , included timely referrals and follow-up . Midwives reported strengthened collaboration with community health workers and local facilities , while families highlighted better access to culturally responsive and holistic care , the introduction of digital tools , further streamlined coordination and reduced delays in service delivery . These results demonstrate that integrated primary health services can strengthen maternal and child health care systems , with midwives playing a pivotal role in bringing gaps and fostering trust . Scaling such models nationwide could enhance safe motherhood initiatives and accelerate progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals .

Speaker 1 28:47

At the same time , salamatu Hayat and Mardia were talking about perceptions of water birth , a mixed method study of reproductive age women in Gombe State in Nigeria , and they used a sequential explanatory mixed method design . Data was collected from 418 respondents and their findings found that just over 77% of participants had positive views of water birth , with almost 81% believing it enhanced the birth experienced water birth , with almost 81% , believing it enhanced the birth experienced . However , almost 55% identified neonatal water aspiration as a potential risk . Qualitative results highlighted mixed perceptions . While some participants were positive and interested in trying water birth , others remained sceptical , expressing concerns about its safety . Others remained sceptical , expressing concerns about its safety . The study found a general positive perception of water birth amongst reproductive women , although concerns about neonatal risks such as water aspiration and maternal infection persisted .

Speaker 1 29:54

We had one keynote in session 16 , and that was Kate Greenstock . Flourishing means staying connected in the heartbreak and hope . Merely existing as a midwife in much of the world is a political act . Flourishing collectively is our outrageous next step . At its core , flourishing means staying connected to ourselves and to each other , even as we face the psychological challenges of this work . Experiences of trauma , exposure and moral injury connect us as global midwives , despite our differing context , and yet they so often disconnect us from ourselves and the family we serve . Our time together will acknowledge the realities and explore how we go on sustaining ourselves in midwifery by proactively connecting to our purpose , our power , our body , our breath . Just as we ground and encourage a woman in labour , we need to become grounded and encourage ourselves . Following that , we had another double session and in one was Pranita , joy and Judith , and they were talking about connecting midwifery faculty in Bangladesh through peer mentoring for quality improvement . So in 2021 , 20 national peer mentors received online preparation by midwifery faculty from New Zealand . A series of national and local stakeholder briefings took place at key points throughout the program COVID-19 permitting . From 2022 to 2024 , peer mentors conducted in-person quarterly visits to midwifery education institutions in Bangladesh , providing mentorship to 370 midwifery faculty and monitoring the quality of midwifery education . A digital community of practice was created to connect faculty with peer mentors , with each other and with teaching resources . Baseline and endline data were collected using a checklist based on the WHO midwifery educator competencies , then entered into a digital dashboard . Qualitative data was collected by survey questionnaires and then analysed thematically . The process evaluation of the program in 2024 found that peer mentors had been effective in enabling faculty to implement the curriculum to improve the learning environment and increase student exposure to midwifery-led care models in practice . The program may not be generalized across all midwifery education institutions or outside of Bangladesh , but definitely worth a listen . And the concurrent session with that was Royston .

Speaker 1 32:35

Using pregnancy to facilitate physiological birth and future-proof the health and wellbeing of the family . The labour hopscotch , a visual tool that encourages activity during pregnancy and childbirth has been used in one advanced midwifery practitioner's service since 2017 and in Ireland since 2020 . Annual retrospective audits of both interventions have demonstrated the benefits of using both Body mass index rates over 25 for 61 percent Case load . Excessive weight gain was 24 percent and 29 percent . After implementation , there was a 72% spontaneous onset of labour rates , going up to 73 in 2004 . In 2023 , 92% birth before 41 weeks . Induction of labour dropped from 43% to 28% and emergency caesarean section rates followed . Induction dropped from 33% to 23% . Pregnancy is an opportunity to encourage healthy eating and exercise to 23% . Pregnancy is an opportunity to encourage healthy eating and exercise . These interventions should be viewed as a long-term investment by reducing maternal and childhood complications associated with excessive pregnancy weight gain , as demonstrated in those retrospective audits .

Speaker 1 33:54

In session 18 , yet again , another double session , hence why people catch up with the YouTubes for the ones that they missed . This was Rosan Joy and Farideh , connecting midwives with their rights , protecting midwives and students against workplace abuse in Bangladesh . In Bangladesh , in many countries around the world , midwives regularly face workplace abuse , but few incidences are reported or resolved appropriately . A working group was formed to develop the framework with representatives from policy level , practice , education , regulatory body , administration , professional associations and women's groups . Expert advice was provided by a regional safeguarding specialist and the draft was validated at a national workshop . The framework consists of a survivor-focused standard operating procedure aligned with national laws and guidelines , a dedicated safeguarding cell within the Director-General of Nursing Midwifery in Bangladesh and a helpline and an email address for reporting abuse . There are newly defined reporting and investigative processes and the provision of medical , legal , psychosocial assistance as required . Faculty and nurse midwife managers received training of train the trainers and national and divisional staff , midwives , nurses and students received orientation . The next steps will be final approval by the Ministry , a launch and implementation of the framework with dissemination to all nurses and midwives , education institutions , students and service managers through the Director-General and the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council and professional associations . The concurrent session was Heather and Amy .

Speaker 1 35:39

The power of language in sexual and reproductive health harms and opportunities . The provision of safe and respectful sexual and reproductive care is a basic human right and a core value of reproductive justice . A provider's choice of words and how the words are delivered lays the foundation for the patient-provider encounter . Most importantly , intentionality in choosing respectful and inclusive language can positively influence whether patients feel seen and valued as human beings . Written documentation and how patients are described in electronic health records , including historically stigmatised words , can perpetuate racial disparities in healthcare delivery . In an effort to advance health equity and improve sexual and reproductive healthcare quality ,

Neonatal Jaundice and Cultural Beliefs

Speaker 1 36:29

an extensive literature review of peer-reviewed publications in PubMed , current textbooks and national guidelines on recommended sexual and reproductive healthcare language was conducted in 2024 . Their presentation had three objectives to describe the harm and opportunity in language in written and spoken form , including the electronic health record provided to provider communication and patient-provided communication . To provide a review of female anatomy and procedures as gendered non-climature . And review the harms of stigmatising language and current recommendations for patient-centred and inclusive language in sexual and reproductive healthcare settings and scholarly writing using sample reproductive healthcare vignettes Session 19, .

Speaker 1 37:14

Another double we had Jamie and he talked about Black African women , experiences of perinatal mental health and barriers and enablers in accessing services . Non-access of perinatal mental health services for black African women can lead to increasing perinatal morbidity and mortality in relation to mental health . Three quarters of black and brown women's morbidity is associated with suicide in the postnatal period and they are more likely to experience adverse outcomes during pregnancy and the postnatal period compared to white women , as in the last embrace reports . Health inequities with maternity services also increase the risk of mental health challenges , which is exacerbated by unemployment , poverty , homelessness , which can add to the challenges of women accessing perinatal mental health services . There is also this stigma associated stigma with the black African community in declaring mental health challenges and it being viewed as shameful and embarrassing to admit to feeling depression , leading to alienation and preventing the women from seeking help from other professionals . The reluctance to accept support is also compounded by negative experiences from health professionals and engagement with primary care . What we don't know is how women can be supported in accessing services and what is required to be on place . Contribution to knowledge is exploring and describing attributes to perinatal mental health , listening to women's voices and understanding the service and how it can be improved as voices and understanding the service and how it can be improved .

Speaker 1 38:54

So the partnering presentation in session 19 was Ronnie , vicky and Vijaya and they were talking about partnerships to promote midwifery , using the International Childbirth Initiative as a framework to encourage leadership and professional collaboration . Collaboration is a cornerstone of effective , safe and respectful maternity care . The International Childbirth Initiative framework centres the roles of midwives in the provision of respectful care and creates a space to allow for increased understanding and promotion of midwifery across countries where midwifery has not been integrated . The goal of initiative is to promote practices that allow for safe physiological birth , including promotion of midwifery philosophy and access to continuous support . The need for midwives is greater than ever , as globally , we observe a trend for increasing maternal mortality and increasing rates of caesarean birth . The panel will introduce the initiative with midwives speaking from participating health facilities in Chile , india and the Philippines about their experiences of collaborating with their community , physicians , nurses , administrators and policymakers through the platform .

Speaker 1 40:06

20 was another double and another dual language , so we had a Spanish presentation by Carla about how midwives play a fundamental role in health and wellbeing of our communities , but they have faced challenges such as lack of recognition , institutional support , job opportunities . It is essential to strengthen their role , create jobs and ensure respect for their work . More than a profession , being a midwife is a vocation that involves accompanying mothers in crucial moments with professionalism and confidence . However , due to their historic importance , they often do not receive the recognition they deserve . To change this reality , it is key to promote job opportunities in hospitals , clinics and community health programs . The solution lies in organisation , the creation of support networks , the pursuit of partnership with public and private sectors . By joining forces , it is possible to reduce unemployment within the midwifery community and ensure that their work is seen as indispensable to social wellbeing . The path to greater recognition and job stability requires commitment and collaborative work . The unity of midwives is their greatest strength in ensuring that their profession is valued and essential in society . The concurrent number 20 session is Cindyindy katie and chastity .

Speaker 1 41:30

Management of ankylosa in anglosia in infants , commonly known as tongue tie , is an unusual , short , thickening and tight band of tissue tethering the tongue and restricting its movements . Estimated to affect 4-10% of newborns In the newborn period it can be associated with breath-freeing difficulties , often diagnosed when nipple pain develops during nursing . Longer-term consequences can include eating and speech problems . Other oral structures can be affected by tight tissues , such as cheeks and lips , contributing to limited oral range of motion . Tincture of time and instruction on latch and positioning during breastfeeding can be all that is needed for the mildest cases . Other options can include physical therapy and massage to the oral structure of the infant . Surgical release of tight tissues and accompanied with a small incision , there may be an increase in diagnosis and raising concerns regarding over-diagnosis and unnecessary surgery . Midwives are intimately involved in the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding and the promotion of maternal and infant health , particularly in the early weeks after birth . Particularly in the early weeks after birth . This presentation reviews the diagnostic criteria and the latest evidence and equips midwives with assessment skills and management options to offer parents with infants with the condition .

Speaker 1 43:00

Session 21 , close to the end but still continuing with the double sessions . In this

Leadership and Capacity Building

Speaker 1 43:07

one we have Mutatasini , exploring fear of childbirth and associated factors amongst pregnant women in SIAT implications for midwifery . So fear of childbirth is a significant maternal health issue and affects physiological and emotional well-being . They conducted a quantitative study of 194 pregnant women in the Siat province . Data was collected using a questionnaire in two sections First explored tocophobia associated factors and the second evaluated childbirth fear using an EPA scale . The average age of participants was just over 26 years , with 59% multiparous and 41 primoparous . Multiparous women reported higher scores than primoparous . Significant associations was observed between tocophobia and psychological disorders , experiences of violence and negative childbirth experience . These findings suggest that prior trauma and psychological factors are critically determinants of fear of childbirth .

Speaker 1 44:15

And the partner presentation in session 21 was Helen , mike and Amy , and they presented the Connected Curriculum Promoting Midwifery Education Excellence , presented the Connected Curriculum Promoting Midwifery Education Excellence . So theirs was a showcase of the design and implementation of a dynamic , co-created curriculum that integrates and optimises excellence of midwifery education . Their learning through research and inquiry forms the centre core , linked to six dimensions which enable connectivity to midwifery as follows a through line of research activity supporting students to connect with researchers , institutional research . Make connections across subjects out to the world . Connect academic learning with workplace learning . Produce outputs assessments directed at an audience . Connect with others across phases , with alumni . Their presentation was relevant and unity for a global audience of clinicians , educations and students within and beyond midwifery . It illustrated how they could inclusive midwifery curriculum is operated within their institution .

Speaker 1 45:25

Session 22 , another double session Elsie joining hands across the African continent and the dysphoria mothers and midwives together . Mothers and babies of African descent have some of the poorest outcomes of childbearing continuity , irrespective of their gross national income per capita with a low , medium or high income countries . The establishment of the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent at the United Nations in December 2022 began the journey to create a dedicated forum to focus on midwives and mothers who are on the ground delivering and receiving maternal care for those communities . Mothers and midwives across the dysphoria have made interventions at each permanent forum session to support this work . The aim of her presentation was to share the journey to date of this unique network , to refocus on the value of midwifery to reducing the mortality rate and morbidity of black mothers and babies worldwide . It will describe the approach being used to garner the knowledge and skills of midwives across the world , utilising every means of supporting professional and vocational approaches to achieve its aims . It shared the outcomes and the achievements , and the presentation will welcome ongoing support of delegates in the future of good global midwifery relationships .

Speaker 1 46:45

The other concurrent one at that time was Sandra leveraging artificial intelligence AI to advance midwifery practice a systematic review of innovations and challenges . Integrating artificial intelligence into healthcare holds transformative potential for midwives , enhancing prenatal care , labour and delivery outcomes and postnatal support . Systematic review evaluates how AI can improve decision-making , client outcomes and personalised care , highlighting the urgency for midwifery professionals to adapt to this emerging innovation . The review explored AI applications across medical imaging , diagnostics , predictive analytics , personalized medicine , natural language processing , robotics , virtual health assistance and genomics . In midwifery , ai technologies improve diagnostic accuracy , patient monitoring , risk assessment , treatment personalisation and expiated drug discovery . Moreover , by automating routine tasks and reducing administrative burdens , ai supports midwives in focusing more on client care and their wellbeing . These innovative , streamlined clinical workflows and enhanced patient outcomes demonstrates AI's transformative potential in midwifery . Ai integration midwifery is an emerging reality with profound implications for practice and care . Preparedness through training , professional development and supportive regulations is essential to ensure ethical and effective adoption . Future research should address integration guidelines , challenges , benefits and long-term impact , ensuring AI complements midwifery core values with advancing client care .

Speaker 1 48:32

We then had our last double session in session 23 , the first one being Judith , and how placental transfusion saves newborn lives . Her presentation explained how sustained umbilical cord circulation from placental transfusion after birth facilitates a large auto-transfusion from the placenta to the infant that holds potential for saving babies' lives . This transfer of blood provides an innate force within the newborn's body

Online Education in Restricted Environments

Speaker 1 49:01

, enhancing blood flow and perfusion , essential for normal growth , development and regeneration . High progesterone levels prime the body to receive blood at this time . Enhanced blood volume causes high pulmonary artery pressure for approximately the first 10 post-birth hours , likely driving maximum perfusion through the whole body . The enhanced blood volume floods the newborn brainstem and other organs , prevents hypervolemia as well as subtle and overt ischemia , and helps a newborn regain homeostasis after the stress of birth . The presentation provides evidence for each facet , explains how they work together to ensure newborn health and will discuss the high cost of immediate or early cord clamping . And the last concurrent session before our final keynote was Marilyn and Susanna .

Speaker 1 50:03

The Future Births Project . The Future Births Project explores innovative future scenarios for birth care , grounded in developments shaped by birthing communities and midwives as key agents of change . Their study employed a qualitative method approach , integrated traditional participatory research methodologies with innovative arts-based practices to guide participants through immersive process of exploration and co-creation . Their cross-cultural sampling includes midwives from the Netherlands and the Peru , alongside service users from India , offering diverse perspectives from dynamics of birthing care . Preliminary data has informed development of a zine which synthesizes participatory contributions into an accessible , creative format . This sign unveils a transformative vision of birth care , such as different ways of developing prenatal technology for autonomy rather than control . The role of community in birth care is embedded , addressing systematic injustices and inequality in global North and south midwives as education , birth advocates or portals for bringing new ways of birth care , those articulated through critical reflections on participant life experiences and current practices . Participants then identified innovative community-centered care models that emphasize equity , cultural responsiveness and inclusivity . Furthermore , the preliminary findings underscore the potential for participatory , arts-based research to amplify under-representing voices and foster critical discourse on the future of maternal and newborn care , which now brings us to our final keynote speaker for session 24 , and that was Yvonne , and she did her session in French and her theme was looking at .

Speaker 1 51:52

The intervention is looking at midwifery and the voice of midwifery in literature . The theme of the intervention is motivated by a regrettable problem of visibility of midwives in certain publications . This is the case for the inclusion of our profession's activity in UNESCO's Intangible Heritage List , where in the French announcement , the word Sache Femme is absent from the title . How are midwives presented elsewhere ? Nine documents have been identified that deal with the art , care , practice , science or provision of midwifery . Summaries of these documents will be presented , along with analysis carried out based on the criteria of patient-centered care . The results show that all these formulations do not have exactly the same scope . However , they all make strong cases for midwives and what characterizes them . If UNESCO had published the title midwifery knowledge , skills and practices , midwives would be visible throughout the french-speaking world .

Speaker 1 52:53

And usually after our final keynote presentation we have a closing session , and this year's closing session had a little bit of a talk and then had a little bit of a performance by Tracy Curran , who is a midwife , and so she kind of wrote a midwife anthem song for us and we had a little bit of a virtual sing-along at the same time and in the final presentation we also looked at the words in which people described their feelings of being a midwife , and we used mentimeter and we created a word cloud and what were clear to come out was centered in this word cloud to the question how does connecting with other midwives make you feel ? The word that was right in the centre and the largest of all was empowered , followed by part of a family and then inspired , proud , connected with assortment of words of excited , inspiring , loving , honoured , amazing , reassured , welcoming , happy , together , caring , worldly , incredible , part of history , joy . So those feelings were really good to show how , not just kind of connecting for this conference , but connecting to each other more importantly . And then we finished with one of the things that I'm happiest and proudest about because I kind of make it is during the whole conference , so the whole 24 hours , we

Innovative Frameworks and Future Directions

Speaker 1 54:41

asked people to send in a selfie with their name and their country of where they are , and it's really cool because as they're going through that in about session 22 , 21 , I kind of wake up early it's about 3.30 here in Adelaide time and then I put all of those selfies into a little video . We intersperse it with some of the Vidim information , so the keynote speakers , the facilitators , some of the things we've used in social media camera cards . We also put in the middle a map of the world with all the countries , and we had 57 countries join us this year , which is fabulous , and we also had all their flags , which was fabulous . For Ali to find all those flags . So there's a lot of work going on behind the scenes in the last couple of hours and so the first version of that is shown at the end of the conference and then over the next couple of days , as more selfies come in , version two is finished and then that will be going up onto the youtube site very shortly as well . So we do that every year . It's a way of acknowledging the people who dial in and participate . It's a way of helping to promote the conference diversity as well .

Speaker 1 56:05

The thing about this conference which is what got me involved in presenting and what got me involved in being a facilitator and then got me involved in being a committee member is that it is free . It is accessible from anywhere with a device connection , and part of our evaluation survey that we do has shown that a lot of people are looking at it from laptops , from phones . Majority of people actually watch it by themselves , some people watch it at work with groups , some people watch it with students . Obviously , not everyone can get to all 24 . One to six sessions is the most common , and then other people saying , yeah , we catch up with the rest of them when the videos come out , and we can see that by the analytics in YouTube that people dip in and out at different stages , and it's really cool because you can dip in and out of previous years as well , so you can find something that you're interested in . You look at how it's changed over the years as well . You can find out who's talking about what .

Speaker 1 57:14

We get very , very anglo-centric in research , and this is a fabulous way and has been for the last 17 years of showcasing what is happening in a variety of different countries . We all care , we all want what's best for the profession . We all want what's best for women and pregnant people and their families . We all want to do what we can , but we also need to do it in a way that is sustainable , that builds capacity and that is ongoing . So hopefully this has enjoyed a little bit . Go to the vidmorg v-i-d-morg . You'll see the program there . You can read a little bit more detail I didn't read all of the bios completely and then you'll be able to see it on our YouTube channel , virtual Midwives , coming up from July . Thank you very much . Normal program will be returning very shortly .