What a busy week it has been for us at the MVP, during Maternal Mental Health Week. We’ve had the launch of the new resource that is a ‘one stop shop’ of all of the support available for parents who need help with their mental health in Gloucestershire. We had a Facebook video chat with the Birth Anxiety... Read More
On the 2nd November 2022 we held our first ever Maternity Partnership Meeting for Gloucestershire! This meeting felt a huge step in the right direction for collaboration and coproduction. MVPs were set up as independent organisations who listen to feedback about maternity services. As the chair of Gloucestershire MVP, I... Read More
Gloucestershire Maternity Voices Partnership are interested to understand more about the care offered to a new mother whilst she is an inpatient on the maternity ward with a baby in the NICU, after receiving feedback from a mother about her experience. In March 2022, the MVP collated feedback about women and birthing people’s... Read More
Next week is National Breastfeeding Week, and we have got so much going on! We’re delighted to have so many people coming to talk to us during the week. On Monday at 10:15am, we’ll be joined by Dad Matters Gloucestershire and Breastfeeding Network Gloucestershire to talk about how partners and family... Read More
On International Home Birth Day, our vice-chair, Louise, shares her home birth experiences. I watched my Mum opt for a home birth when she was pregnant with my sister in 1989. I listened as her choice was dismissed by various medical professionals. My Mum was young and we didn’t live in a big house and her GP informed... Read More
Content warning – this blog may be triggering, please only read if you feel safe and able to. There are signposting options to support at the end. Miscarriage – where to start? By Kathy, Gloucestershire MVP Chair The loss of hope, the loss of a future. We have been speaking quite a bit about early miscarriage... Read More
If your baby arrived in March 2022, they were one of 472 born in the county! The stats: 261 boys, and 211 girls. 7 sets of twins, no triplets. Weights ranged from 700g (1lb 9oz) to 4750g (10lb 7.5oz) 79% of women and birthing people initiated breastfeeding with their babies Places of birth: Cheltenham Aveta Birth Centre... Read More
Hi, I’m Hannah and I’m one of the new Vice Chairs for the Gloucestershire Maternity Voices. I’m going to be focusing on perinatal mental health, and neonatal care. I have experience of both areas as a service user so this is a very exciting job for me and something I am very passionate about! My daughter... Read More
Maternal Mental Health Week always causes me to pause and reflect on my experiences of mental illness, in the time before and after the arrival of my daughter. I had some experience of mental health challenges in the years before I got pregnant, so when my midwife asked me at my booking appointment, I mentioned them to... Read More
Mental health and wellbeing resources for new and expectant parents Speak your midwife. If you have been discharged, your health visitor can also provide advice, and refer for additional support. Visit www.ghc.nhs.uk/healthvisiting for contact details. Your GP is there to support your mental and physical health before,... Read More