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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Virtual International Day of the Midwife
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260505T210000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260505T215000
DTSTAMP:20260422T171453Z
CREATED:20260405T102017Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260422T171453Z
UID:15306-1778014800-1778017800@vidm.org
SUMMARY:24 Keynote Growing Voice in Midwifery: A Closing Call to Action
DESCRIPTION:Speaker:- Ginger Breedlove\,  \nFacilitator:- Catherine Salam \nAchieving equity\, access\, and human rights in maternal care demands a global commitment to empowering midwives and ensuring that every woman\, everywhere\, can give birth safely\, with dignity and respect. However\, to address these pressing and complex issues midwives must be prepared to be strong advocates. Preparation requires synthesis of data\, skills to persuade others\, and understanding the art of negotiation. Attaining successful midwifery advocacy requires learning a skill set beyond the day-to-day practice of the profession. This closing session will discuss key resources to help midwives learn how to increase your influence\, gain trust among diverse stakeholders\, how to find common goals in challenging conversations\, and steps that can foster building bridges toward change.  \nTime in your location https://bit.ly/VIDM26-closing-session \nShare this:\n				Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)\n				Facebook\n			\n				Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)\n				LinkedIn\n			\n				Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)\n				Bluesky\n			\n				Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)\n				Email\n			\n				Share on Threads (Opens in new window)\n				Threads\n			\n				Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)\n				WhatsApp
URL:https://vidm.org/event/keynote-growing-voice-in-midwifery-a-closing-call-to-action/
CATEGORIES:General Interest,Keynote
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://vidm.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/24-KN-Ginger-Breedlove.png
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260505T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260505T155000
DTSTAMP:20260423T093813Z
CREATED:20260417T101140Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260423T093813Z
UID:15673-1777993200-1777996200@vidm.org
SUMMARY:18 If midwifery isn't free\, it's not for all: what freebirth tells us about birthing freedom
DESCRIPTION:Speaker:- Maria Velo Higueras \nFacilitators:- Ekaristi Asti Kolanus & Wilson Soko \nAbstract:- What happens when Midwifery for all\, isn’t truly for all? In the UK\, growing numbers of women are choosing freebirth\, not because they reject midwives\, but because they cannot access them on their own terms. This presentation asks: what does freebirth reveal about birthing freedom in the UK? \n Aim: To explore midwives’ experiences of freebirth and what these reveal about systemic barriers to birthing freedom.  \n Methods: a mixed-methods study combined interviews with 14 clinical midwives and a survey of 418 midwives. Data was analysed through a feminist lens to examine issues of power and autonomy in midwives accounts.  \n Findings: Freebirth is increasingly becoming a fallback plan when midwifery care cannot be guaranteed amid systemic pressures. While many saw freebirth as a resistance to medicalisation and wished to support women’s choices\, they described navigating the tensions of working within narrower parameters of risk-averse and defensive practice. Midwives felt vulnerable when caring for these families. In a context of increased medicalisation of midwifery\, midwives raised concerns about the rise of unregulated birth workers who may be displacing midwives as trusted birth attendants.  \n Conclusion: Freebirth is not a rejection of midwifery\, it is a call for greater midwifery and reproductive freedom. If midwifery is not free from systemic constraints\, it cannot be for all. Reimaging care to prioritise autonomy\, continuity and trust is essential to enable midwives to practice without fear and to make midwifery for all a reality. \nCheck the time in your location here https://bit.ly/VIDM26-session-18 \nShare this:\n				Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)\n				Facebook\n			\n				Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)\n				LinkedIn\n			\n				Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)\n				Bluesky\n			\n				Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)\n				Email\n			\n				Share on Threads (Opens in new window)\n				Threads\n			\n				Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)\n				WhatsApp
URL:https://vidm.org/event/18-if-midwifery-isnt-free-its-not-for-all-what-freebirth-tells-us-about-birthing-freedom/
CATEGORIES:General Interest
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://vidm.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/18-Maria-Velo-Higueras.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260505T070000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260505T075000
DTSTAMP:20260504T181810Z
CREATED:20260418T125634Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260504T181810Z
UID:15720-1777964400-1777967400@vidm.org
SUMMARY:10 Towards Jewish Cultural Safety in Maternity Care
DESCRIPTION:Speaker:- Laura Godfrey-Isaacs & Jessica Falk Perlman \nFacilitator :- Ally Anderson \nAbstract:- Cultural safety and anti-racist work in maternity care is ongoing. In 2024\, the NHS Race and Health Observatory investigated health inequalities in Jewish communities for the first time. Their review looked at the impact of communications on cultural competency and antisemitism\, which can create barriers to care and deepen health inequalities for this minority community. Shifrah UK\, co-founded by the two presenters in 2025\, informs on Jewish birth practices and raises awareness of Jewish Cultural safety. The presentation will be made by a midwife who also serves as Culture and Awareness Lead on the NHS Staff Network and Council member of the Jewish Medical Association (UK) and will provide a vital introduction to help conference attendees consider how they can provide culturally safe care for Jewish women\, birthing people and families. In the presentation\, we will explore complex and diverse Jewish identities from around the world and cover some key Jewish cultural birth practices such as male circumcision\, attitudes to breastfeeding\, pregnancy and baby loss traditions in terms of death and mourning rituals\, festivals and fasting. We will introduce and sign-post to key resources and links. \nCheck the time in your location here https://bit.ly/VIDM26-session-10 \nShare this:\n				Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)\n				Facebook\n			\n				Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)\n				LinkedIn\n			\n				Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)\n				Bluesky\n			\n				Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)\n				Email\n			\n				Share on Threads (Opens in new window)\n				Threads\n			\n				Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)\n				WhatsApp
URL:https://vidm.org/event/10-towards-jewish-cultural-safety-in-maternity-care/
CATEGORIES:General Interest
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://vidm.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/10-Laura-Godfrey-Isaacs-Jessica-Falk-Perlman-2.png
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