Episode 188 A Chat with Frances, Consultant midwife

In this episode I talk with my wonderful collelague consultant midwife Frances Rivers about what the role looks like on the ground and why it matters for women, midwives, and obstetricians. We dig into evidence, inequality, and personalised care, and how respectful conversations can keep trust even when choices sit outside recommendations. • what a consultant midwife does and why the role was created • the four pillars: clinical expertise, leadership, research, education • how women can access consultant midwife support through their midwife • disparities in place of birth by ethnicity and why awareness matters • the evidence for midwife-led units, home birth and birth centres • why birth centre rates are falling and what leadership can change • working with healthy tension between midwifery and obstetrics • personalised care when national guidance and evidence do not align • freebirth, disengagement from care and the difference between information and coercion • communication that starts with yes, continuity of care and being heard Want to know more?The role of the consultant midwifehttps://rcm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/JGC2520-CM-Role-publication-v6-DIGITAL-1.pdfFrances's research into ethnicity and place of birthhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-024-06977-zA recent article by Frances and others about midwifery unit useagehttps://www.all4maternity.com/racialised-womens-use-of-midwifery-units-barriers-and-facilitators/https://birthrights.org.uk/it'd be fantastic if you could subscribe, rate, and review on whatever platform you find your podcasts, as well as recommending the Obspod to anyone you think might find it interesting. Thank you all for listening,  My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and birth. If you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider.If you have found my ideas helpful whilst expecting your baby or working in maternity care please spread the word & help theobspod reach other parents or staff who may be interested in exploring all things pregnancy and birth. Keeping my podcast running  without ads or sponsorship is important to me. I want to keep it free and accessible to all but it costs me a small amount each month to maintain and keep the episodes live, if you wish to contribute anything to  support theobspod please head over to my buy me a coffee page  https://bmc.link/theobspodV any donation very gratefully received however small. Its easy to explore my back catalogue of episodes, I have a wide range of topics that may help you make decisions for yourself and your baby during pregnancy as well as some more reflective episodes on life as a doctor. If you want to get in touch to suggest topics, I love to hear your thoughts and ideas. You can find out more about me on Instagram @TheObsPod and email me on [email protected] Please also check out #MatExp matexp.org.uk for ideas about how to improve maternity experience. My bea...