Maternity Engagement Action CIC

‍🗨️Learn more about our report on home birth restrictions in the UK in this @MidwiferyForum article written by our co-ceos, Shanthi Gunesekera and Janaki Mahadevan: bit.ly/matBR. Visit our website for the full report & available resources to challenge restrictions.

🚨“Home birth is and should be seen as a core part of maternity care,” - our co-ceo Janaki Mahadevan spoke with @itvnews about the restrictions to home birth across the UK. Read the full article below at: bit.ly/itv_HB, & tune in to ITV at 18:55 for more. #homebirth

Absolutely amazing event last night. Well done to @sandeeigwe and the @MotherhoodGroup team and congratulations to all if the finalists and winners. 🎉🎉🎉

Sandra, why don't Black mothers engage more with mainstream maternal health services? This is the powerful question I answered today at the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Reproductive Health and Childbirth Symposium in Manchester. As I’m often asked. I shared The @MotherhoodGroup approach to "Creating Inclusive Connections" and our work promoting the inclusion of under-served communities in reproductive health. My three key takeaways from today: 1. Trust is built through consistent community presence, not just during crises 2. The voices of Black mothers must shape the services designed for them 3. Simple language and cultural understanding can transform the maternal healthcare experience Grateful to connect with dedicated healthcare professionals committed to improving maternal outcomes for all communities. Together, we're building more equitable pathways to maternal wellbeing. #MaternalHealth #Inclusion #NIHR #BlackMotherhood

What’s behind home birth restrictions? Why does it matter? What can be done? Join us on March 26 (12–1:30 PM) for the launch of our report, to learn more about these restrictions and their consequences and hear from expert panellists.📣Sign up to attend: bit.ly/web_BR

Our SMHM 2025 event was a huge success! The energy in the room was incredible, sparking a real buzz around community-led research & Black-led systems change. Big thanks to our CEO Amanda for hosting with "passion, compassion, humor & style." 🙌🏿 Shoutout to our guest speakers. X

MEA in the news. computerweekly.com/news/366617749… Thank you @ComputerWeekly @TamandaWal85822 for the article on our community research work. #SeeMeHearMe

Equity in research means creating fairness and truly representing the communities we serve. At Maternity Engament Action we are redefining what inclusive research looks like. This is how we ensure all voices are heard. 🖤✨  See the full video by @sci_toons #seemehearme24 #SMHM24

Our See Me Hear Me 2024 campaign has started with the launch of our first public report. We believe that those with lived and living experiences are best placed to drive research, generate data and analyse the data they collect. maternityengagement.uk/campaign/see-m… #SMHM24 #smhmcommunitydata

This week.

Listening in @mbrrace conference. Data collection is still an issue. Personalised care and supporting the diverse needs of diverse communities is still not embedded. Commissioning grass roots VCFSE organisations is needed.

Our new landmark @MarmotIHE review concludes racism damages health & wellbeing & drives avoidable inequalities between ethnic groups across London @SadiqKhan @DrHNaqvi @LDN_gov @LondonAssembly @UCL 1/6 instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-repo…

The review highlights the well-documented marked inequalities among ethnic minority groups in maternal and child health and mental illness, alongside experiences with the criminal justice system and services more widely 5/6

275 women died in the UK during pregnancy or up to six weeks after the end of pregnancy in 2020-2022 from causes related to or exacerbated by pregnancy among 2,028,543 women giving birth, a maternal mortality rate of 13.56 per 100,000 buff.ly/2HR30eT

📢📢 ANNOUNCING 📢📢 Organising ABUELOS 23-26 October 2024 We're creating ABUELOS, a cultural centre with accommodation. Join us as we prepare for a community space in which culture, radical hospitality and architecture are crafted to meet the moment. bit.ly/ABUELOS2024

Momas-to-be have you downloaded the Baby Buddy App? You can now access a bespoke local services feature to find support near you – whether that’s searching for a hospital to give birth, or finding an infant feeding support group in your area! #BabyBuddyLocal #BestBeginnings

⭐This #BMMHWUK, we are highlighting these orgs that support black perinatal women + birthing people: 🖤@MotherhoodGroup 🤎Melanin Mothers Meet 🖤@MaternityEngage 🤎@fivexmore ⭐Give them your support and reach out to them if needed. #BMMHW24 #maternalmentalhealth