Minutes May 2018 | makebirthbetterold

Present

Emma Svanberg Perinatal Clinical Psychologist

Chloe Mulholland Midwife and Hypnobirthing teacher

Debbie Chippington Derrick AIMS

Louise Nunn Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Midwife

Matthew Miles Head of Patient & Public Involv. RCOG

Rebecca Ferrer Gateway Midwife

Natasha Soliman Gateway Midwife (soon to join FNP)

Apologies

1. Introductions

2. Announcements

Andrew Mayers is looking for blogs, stories and resources for International Fathers’ Mental Health Day on June 18th. If anyone on the network has something that they (or a dad) would like to say, please let him know.

3. What is the Network?

We discussed the goals of the network, and went through the ‘trauma focused journey’ document Emma Svanberg sent round (with objectives based on the themes of the Make Birth Better campaign).

Agreed the Network holds a unique position in bringing together professionals from a range of different backgrounds, parents with lived experience, peer supporters and other interested parties. Key objectives are to raise awareness, help parents navigate services, promote good (trauma-focused) practice and provide information and training to parents and professionals.
Need to finalise ‘mission statement’ for website and promotion of the Network

Emma and Rebecca

4. Becoming Champions

It was suggested that every member of the Network takes on a ‘champion’ role in their own networks. We discussed how emotive discussing birth trauma can understandably be, and emphasised that we can all promote the network objectives in our other contexts.

One key area is trying to ensure there is a Network representative at different events, highlighting the work we are doing. Another is ensuring we are working with and sharing information with LMSs and MVPs.

We also highlighted the work that is going on throughout the UK and the importance of drawing together this work and promoting it rather than ‘reinventing the wheel’. Emma will create a Google Group to make it easier for everyone to share resources. Please let her know if you would like to be invited

5. Initial Objectives

First key objective of the Network is to develop the Make Birth Better website to ensure it is a comprehensive resource for parents and professionals. Emma is doing this alone at the moment so if you know of any developers who can help feel free to send them her way!
Aim to promote website and network on 1st July for Birth Trauma Awareness week

Emma is looking for guest blogs from all members of the network to share their experience and expertise.

The website can also act as a hub for documenting services and resources. Please can everyone add to the map the services they are in or services they are aware of at www.makebirthbetter.org/gethelp (there is a linked form)

Emma will add a forum to the website to make it easier to share resources and events

Need to add Nationwide services and helplines – please send any that you know of to Emma to add.

Agreed that there needs to be a clear message on the website about what are the current evidence-based treatments for trauma, but that there are other sources of support that people might find helpful that are not yet evidence based. Should be researched before use and training/qualifications of provider should always be checked. It would be useful to have blogs up on the site about the different therapies available and also blogs from people who have experienced them.

Second objective is to create a toolkit for professionals to offer guidance on working in a trauma-informed way. This might include pathways for women declining care or making decisions outside guidelines. Infographics would be helpful for objective ways to present information about risk and benefit. Information about active listening and supporting women in their decisions. Could use Tokophobia toolkit as a guideline.

Alongside - a brief toolkit/leaflet for women about their rights and what options should be available to them – could use ‘Am I Allowed’ AIMS leaflet as guidance.

Emphasis on both toolkit and leaflet as being collaborative, non-confrontational and user-friendly.

Matt suggested it might be useful to get early endorsement from the Royal Colleges (Obs & Gynae, Midwifery and GP) for the toolkit.

Discussed other relevant info – e.g. ‘My Body Back’ charity, national guideline of asking about past history of trauma or abuse and potential for re-traumatising. Discussion about different therapies and techniques – agreed as a Network it is not our role to take a position on these but support women in making informed choices about their care.

6. Later objectives

Training – we can propose a workshop for RCOG
Supporting the Supporters - A later objective perhaps is the need to support those working with women and their partners who have been traumatised by birth – both healthcare professionals and peer supporters who may experience vicarious traumatisation (and burn out). Discussed Dr Sally Pezaro’s work on compassion fatigue in midwives
Explore Antenatal Education – discussed the stresses on NHS antenatal education and the feeling some women have that antenatal education ‘set them up to fail’. Discussed this in the light of emphasis on personal responsibility and danger of blaming women for their experiences in this context. Agreed that there is a section of antenatal education where anything outside of a straightforward physiological birth is not discussed or considered. To come back to – guidelines for antenatal education acknowledging past trauma and considering possibilities of different outcomes.
Discussed whether we could provide workshops for services in the future

7. Research

There is a growing body of research into birth trauma
Andy Mayers is looking for possible research projects for his undergraduate students. Ideas suggested: trauma in partners (Andy has recently conducted a study to be published soon), more research into IAPT perinatal services (Pan London Perinatal Network may have more info on this?). Asking women what worked for them after a traumatic birth – to include peer support and other avenues of recovery.
Emma is hoping to be involved in a research project exploring trauma symptoms in midwives and obstetricians next year.

Next meeting – Will send date asap