Mums and Midwives March to Reclaim Birth

More than a thousand people, many with pushchairs and young children, marched over Westminster Bridge in London on Sunday afternoon to a rally at Downing Street. The 'Reclaiming Birth Rally' supported the Albany Midwifery Practice and called for the nation-wide adoption of similar case loaded midwifery services which would look after women from conception past birth and give real choice to all mothers rather than a lucky or privileged few. London, UK. 07/03/2010

The Albany Midwifery Practice based in Peckham, one of the most highly deprived areas of England was widely regarded as a model of best practice and a centre of excellence in NHS midwifery, for the support that it gave to women throughout pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period, encouraging women to make informed choices about how and where they give birth.

Recently King's College Hospital terminated their contract following a critical report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) which King's claim showed "serious shortcomings" over one aspect of their work, forcing the centre to close down. Others see the decision as an attack on alternative ways of maternity care that provide better overall outcomes and better meet the needs of women.

Overall the Albany achieved perinatal mortality rates of 4.9/1000 considerably below the national average and much lower than the 11.4/1000 for Southwark Borough where it is located. Only around 1 in 7 of women in their care gave birth by Caesarean section, compared to 1 in 4 for King's College Hospital, and almost half (46.7%) chose to give birth at home, compared to one mother in sixteen (6.2%) in the borough as a whole. And while nationally roughly one mother in three continues to breastfeed their babies, the figure at Albany was more than three quarters. The NCT, IM UK and others have expressed concern over King's action and the rally called for an independent review of the critical report and an inquiry into the decision to terminate the Albany contract, with the findings to be made public.

The rally was supported by AIMS (Association For Improvements In The Maternity Services), NCT (National Childbirth Trust), ARM (Association of Radical Midwives), IM UK (Independent Midwives UK) and Albany Mums. It also called for a real change in maternity care across the country, with the replacement of the current doctor-led hospital services which are so often un-supportive and even traumatic for mothers by case loaded midwifery services following the example given by Albany and other similar practices. These provide a much more comprehensive service with better information and fuller support for women, including more midwives, at no greater cost than the current system.

More than a thousand people, many with pushchairs and young children, marched over Westminster Bridge in London on Sunday afternoon to a rally at Downing Street. The 'Reclaiming Birth Rally' supported the Albany Midwifery Practice and called for the nation-wide adoption of similar case loaded midwifery services which would look after women from conception past birth and give real choice to all mothers rather than a lucky or privileged few. London, UK. 07/03/2010

The Albany Midwifery Practice based in Peckham, one of the most highly deprived areas of England was widely regarded as a model of best practice and a centre of excellence in NHS midwifery, for the support that it gave to women throughout pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period, encouraging women to make informed choices about how and where they give birth.

Recently King's College Hospital terminated their contract following a critical report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) which King's claim showed "serious shortcomings" over one aspect of their work, forcing the centre to close down. Others see the decision as an attack on alternative ways of maternity care that provide better overall outcomes and better meet the needs of women.

Overall the Albany achieved perinatal mortality rates of 4.9/1000 considerably below the national average and much lower than the 11.4/1000 for Southwark Borough where it is located. Only around 1 in 7 of women in their care gave birth by Caesarean section, compared to 1 in 4 for King's College Hospital, and almost half (46.7%) chose to give birth at home, compared to one mother in sixteen (6.2%) in the borough as a whole. And while nationally roughly one mother in three continues to breastfeed their babies, the figure at Albany was more than three quarters. The NCT, IM UK and others have expressed concern over King's action and the rally called for an independent review of the critical report and an inquiry into the decision to terminate the Albany contract, with the findings to be made public.

The rally was supported by AIMS (Association For Improvements In The Maternity Services), NCT (National Childbirth Trust), ARM (Association of Radical Midwives), IM UK (Independent Midwives UK) and Albany Mums. It also called for a real change in maternity care across the country, with the replacement of the current doctor-led hospital services which are so often un-supportive and even traumatic for mothers by case loaded midwifery services following the example given by Albany and other similar practices. These provide a much more comprehensive service with better information and fuller support for women, including more midwives, at no greater cost than the current system.

More than a thousand people, many with pushchairs and young children, marched over Westminster Bridge in London on Sunday afternoon to a rally at Downing Street. The 'Reclaiming Birth Rally' supported the Albany Midwifery Practice and called for the nation-wide adoption of similar case loaded midwifery services which would look after women from conception past birth and give real choice to all mothers rather than a lucky or privileged few. London, UK. 07/03/2010

The Albany Midwifery Practice based in Peckham, one of the most highly deprived areas of England was widely regarded as a model of best practice and a centre of excellence in NHS midwifery, for the support that it gave to women throughout pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period, encouraging women to make informed choices about how and where they give birth.

Recently King's College Hospital terminated their contract following a critical report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) which King's claim showed "serious shortcomings" over one aspect of their work, forcing the centre to close down. Others see the decision as an attack on alternative ways of maternity care that provide better overall outcomes and better meet the needs of women.

Overall the Albany achieved perinatal mortality rates of 4.9/1000 considerably below the national average and much lower than the 11.4/1000 for Southwark Borough where it is located. Only around 1 in 7 of women in their care gave birth by Caesarean section, compared to 1 in 4 for King's College Hospital, and almost half (46.7%) chose to give birth at home, compared to one mother in sixteen (6.2%) in the borough as a whole. And while nationally roughly one mother in three continues to breastfeed their babies, the figure at Albany was more than three quarters. The NCT, IM UK and others have expressed concern over King's action and the rally called for an independent review of the critical report and an inquiry into the decision to terminate the Albany contract, with the findings to be made public.

The rally was supported by AIMS (Association For Improvements In The Maternity Services), NCT (National Childbirth Trust), ARM (Association of Radical Midwives), IM UK (Independent Midwives UK) and Albany Mums. It also called for a real change in maternity care across the country, with the replacement of the current doctor-led hospital services which are so often un-supportive and even traumatic for mothers by case loaded midwifery services following the example given by Albany and other similar practices. These provide a much more comprehensive service with better information and fuller support for women, including more midwives, at no greater cost than the current system.

More than a thousand people, many with pushchairs and young children, marched over Westminster Bridge in London on Sunday afternoon to a rally at Downing Street. The 'Reclaiming Birth Rally' supported the Albany Midwifery Practice and called for the nation-wide adoption of similar case loaded midwifery services which would look after women from conception past birth and give real choice to all mothers rather than a lucky or privileged few. London, UK. 07/03/2010

The Albany Midwifery Practice based in Peckham, one of the most highly deprived areas of England was widely regarded as a model of best practice and a centre of excellence in NHS midwifery, for the support that it gave to women throughout pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period, encouraging women to make informed choices about how and where they give birth.

Recently King's College Hospital terminated their contract following a critical report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) which King's claim showed "serious shortcomings" over one aspect of their work, forcing the centre to close down. Others see the decision as an attack on alternative ways of maternity care that provide better overall outcomes and better meet the needs of women.

Overall the Albany achieved perinatal mortality rates of 4.9/1000 considerably below the national average and much lower than the 11.4/1000 for Southwark Borough where it is located. Only around 1 in 7 of women in their care gave birth by Caesarean section, compared to 1 in 4 for King's College Hospital, and almost half (46.7%) chose to give birth at home, compared to one mother in sixteen (6.2%) in the borough as a whole. And while nationally roughly one mother in three continues to breastfeed their babies, the figure at Albany was more than three quarters. The NCT, IM UK and others have expressed concern over King's action and the rally called for an independent review of the critical report and an inquiry into the decision to terminate the Albany contract, with the findings to be made public.

The rally was supported by AIMS (Association For Improvements In The Maternity Services), NCT (National Childbirth Trust), ARM (Association of Radical Midwives), IM UK (Independent Midwives UK) and Albany Mums. It also called for a real change in maternity care across the country, with the replacement of the current doctor-led hospital services which are so often un-supportive and even traumatic for mothers by case loaded midwifery services following the example given by Albany and other similar practices. These provide a much more comprehensive service with better information and fuller support for women, including more midwives, at no greater cost than the current system.

More than a thousand people, many with pushchairs and young children, marched over Westminster Bridge in London on Sunday afternoon to a rally at Downing Street. The 'Reclaiming Birth Rally' supported the Albany Midwifery Practice and called for the nation-wide adoption of similar case loaded midwifery services which would look after women from conception past birth and give real choice to all mothers rather than a lucky or privileged few. London, UK. 07/03/2010

The Albany Midwifery Practice based in Peckham, one of the most highly deprived areas of England was widely regarded as a model of best practice and a centre of excellence in NHS midwifery, for the support that it gave to women throughout pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period, encouraging women to make informed choices about how and where they give birth.

Recently King's College Hospital terminated their contract following a critical report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) which King's claim showed "serious shortcomings" over one aspect of their work, forcing the centre to close down. Others see the decision as an attack on alternative ways of maternity care that provide better overall outcomes and better meet the needs of women.

Overall the Albany achieved perinatal mortality rates of 4.9/1000 considerably below the national average and much lower than the 11.4/1000 for Southwark Borough where it is located. Only around 1 in 7 of women in their care gave birth by Caesarean section, compared to 1 in 4 for King's College Hospital, and almost half (46.7%) chose to give birth at home, compared to one mother in sixteen (6.2%) in the borough as a whole. And while nationally roughly one mother in three continues to breastfeed their babies, the figure at Albany was more than three quarters. The NCT, IM UK and others have expressed concern over King's action and the rally called for an independent review of the critical report and an inquiry into the decision to terminate the Albany contract, with the findings to be made public.

The rally was supported by AIMS (Association For Improvements In The Maternity Services), NCT (National Childbirth Trust), ARM (Association of Radical Midwives), IM UK (Independent Midwives UK) and Albany Mums. It also called for a real change in maternity care across the country, with the replacement of the current doctor-led hospital services which are so often un-supportive and even traumatic for mothers by case loaded midwifery services following the example given by Albany and other similar practices. These provide a much more comprehensive service with better information and fuller support for women, including more midwives, at no greater cost than the current system.

More than a thousand people, many with pushchairs and young children, marched over Westminster Bridge in London on Sunday afternoon to a rally at Downing Street. The 'Reclaiming Birth Rally' supported the Albany Midwifery Practice and called for the nation-wide adoption of similar case loaded midwifery services which would look after women from conception past birth and give real choice to all mothers rather than a lucky or privileged few. London, UK. 07/03/2010

The Albany Midwifery Practice based in Peckham, one of the most highly deprived areas of England was widely regarded as a model of best practice and a centre of excellence in NHS midwifery, for the support that it gave to women throughout pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period, encouraging women to make informed choices about how and where they give birth.

Recently King's College Hospital terminated their contract following a critical report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) which King's claim showed "serious shortcomings" over one aspect of their work, forcing the centre to close down. Others see the decision as an attack on alternative ways of maternity care that provide better overall outcomes and better meet the needs of women.

Overall the Albany achieved perinatal mortality rates of 4.9/1000 considerably below the national average and much lower than the 11.4/1000 for Southwark Borough where it is located. Only around 1 in 7 of women in their care gave birth by Caesarean section, compared to 1 in 4 for King's College Hospital, and almost half (46.7%) chose to give birth at home, compared to one mother in sixteen (6.2%) in the borough as a whole. And while nationally roughly one mother in three continues to breastfeed their babies, the figure at Albany was more than three quarters. The NCT, IM UK and others have expressed concern over King's action and the rally called for an independent review of the critical report and an inquiry into the decision to terminate the Albany contract, with the findings to be made public.

The rally was supported by AIMS (Association For Improvements In The Maternity Services), NCT (National Childbirth Trust), ARM (Association of Radical Midwives), IM UK (Independent Midwives UK) and Albany Mums. It also called for a real change in maternity care across the country, with the replacement of the current doctor-led hospital services which are so often un-supportive and even traumatic for mothers by case loaded midwifery services following the example given by Albany and other similar practices. These provide a much more comprehensive service with better information and fuller support for women, including more midwives, at no greater cost than the current system.

More than a thousand people, many with pushchairs and young children, marched over Westminster Bridge in London on Sunday afternoon to a rally at Downing Street. The 'Reclaiming Birth Rally' supported the Albany Midwifery Practice and called for the nation-wide adoption of similar case loaded midwifery services which would look after women from conception past birth and give real choice to all mothers rather than a lucky or privileged few. London, UK. 07/03/2010

The Albany Midwifery Practice based in Peckham, one of the most highly deprived areas of England was widely regarded as a model of best practice and a centre of excellence in NHS midwifery, for the support that it gave to women throughout pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period, encouraging women to make informed choices about how and where they give birth.

Recently King's College Hospital terminated their contract following a critical report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) which King's claim showed "serious shortcomings" over one aspect of their work, forcing the centre to close down. Others see the decision as an attack on alternative ways of maternity care that provide better overall outcomes and better meet the needs of women.

Overall the Albany achieved perinatal mortality rates of 4.9/1000 considerably below the national average and much lower than the 11.4/1000 for Southwark Borough where it is located. Only around 1 in 7 of women in their care gave birth by Caesarean section, compared to 1 in 4 for King's College Hospital, and almost half (46.7%) chose to give birth at home, compared to one mother in sixteen (6.2%) in the borough as a whole. And while nationally roughly one mother in three continues to breastfeed their babies, the figure at Albany was more than three quarters. The NCT, IM UK and others have expressed concern over King's action and the rally called for an independent review of the critical report and an inquiry into the decision to terminate the Albany contract, with the findings to be made public.

The rally was supported by AIMS (Association For Improvements In The Maternity Services), NCT (National Childbirth Trust), ARM (Association of Radical Midwives), IM UK (Independent Midwives UK) and Albany Mums. It also called for a real change in maternity care across the country, with the replacement of the current doctor-led hospital services which are so often un-supportive and even traumatic for mothers by case loaded midwifery services following the example given by Albany and other similar practices. These provide a much more comprehensive service with better information and fuller support for women, including more midwives, at no greater cost than the current system.

More than a thousand people, many with pushchairs and young children, marched over Westminster Bridge in London on Sunday afternoon to a rally at Downing Street. The 'Reclaiming Birth Rally' supported the Albany Midwifery Practice and called for the nation-wide adoption of similar case loaded midwifery services which would look after women from conception past birth and give real choice to all mothers rather than a lucky or privileged few. London, UK. 07/03/2010

The Albany Midwifery Practice based in Peckham, one of the most highly deprived areas of England was widely regarded as a model of best practice and a centre of excellence in NHS midwifery, for the support that it gave to women throughout pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period, encouraging women to make informed choices about how and where they give birth.

Recently King's College Hospital terminated their contract following a critical report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) which King's claim showed "serious shortcomings" over one aspect of their work, forcing the centre to close down. Others see the decision as an attack on alternative ways of maternity care that provide better overall outcomes and better meet the needs of women.

Overall the Albany achieved perinatal mortality rates of 4.9/1000 considerably below the national average and much lower than the 11.4/1000 for Southwark Borough where it is located. Only around 1 in 7 of women in their care gave birth by Caesarean section, compared to 1 in 4 for King's College Hospital, and almost half (46.7%) chose to give birth at home, compared to one mother in sixteen (6.2%) in the borough as a whole. And while nationally roughly one mother in three continues to breastfeed their babies, the figure at Albany was more than three quarters. The NCT, IM UK and others have expressed concern over King's action and the rally called for an independent review of the critical report and an inquiry into the decision to terminate the Albany contract, with the findings to be made public.

The rally was supported by AIMS (Association For Improvements In The Maternity Services), NCT (National Childbirth Trust), ARM (Association of Radical Midwives), IM UK (Independent Midwives UK) and Albany Mums. It also called for a real change in maternity care across the country, with the replacement of the current doctor-led hospital services which are so often un-supportive and even traumatic for mothers by case loaded midwifery services following the example given by Albany and other similar practices. These provide a much more comprehensive service with better information and fuller support for women, including more midwives, at no greater cost than the current system.