MAMA Academy, The Safer Pregnancy Charity

24/11/2025

This Friday, we’re releasing one of the most important episodes of The MAMA Podcast we’ve ever recorded.
Today, here’s a small preview.
In this clip, Leah Hazard speaks honestly about something many midwives live with every day: the gap between the care they want to give and the care the system allows them to give.
Missing staff. Impossible ratios. Emotional and physical strain. And the moral injury that comes when compassionate, highly-trained professionals are stretched far beyond what is safe, for families and for themselves.
It’s not about blaming individuals.
It’s about understanding the conditions they are trying to work in.
This conversation matters because safer care isn’t just about guidelines and policies, it depends on midwives who feel supported, listened to, and able to practice to the standard they were trained for.
🎧 Full episode drops on Friday.

It’s a hard listen, but a necessary one. We hope you’ll join us.

💬 What’s one thing you wish people understood about midwifery today?

23/11/2025

What do babies dream of at 28 weeks? We may never know but by the third trimester, researchers have observed REM sleep in the womb, which is the same sleep stage where dreaming happens in adults. This is a sign that your baby’s brain is developing beautifully, already moving through sleep cycles and preparing for the big, bright world ahead. 💤✨

At MAMA Academy, we love sharing the incredible science behind pregnancy and supporting you through every magical milestone.

💬 Questions about your baby’s development or your pregnancy journey? Our free and confidential helpline is open anytime. Just call: 0203 6428 121

👉 Or visit www.mamaacademy.org.uk for trusted guidance and support.

23/11/2025

Globally, around 15% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage and this rate increases with age, affecting around 18% of women over 35, and up to 65% over 45. Despite how common it is, pregnancy loss is still surrounded by silence and stigma. At MAMA Academy, we’re working to change that, with honest information, compassionate support, and space to grieve without shame.

💬 If you've experienced miscarriage, recently or in the past, you are not alone. Our free and confidential helpline is here for you, always. Just call: 0203 6428 121

👉 Visit www.mamaacademy.org.uk for support, information, and comfort from those who truly understand.

21/11/2025

Every parent deserves clear, trusted pregnancy information in the language they understand best.
Right now, you can already read our website and all of our digital written resources in over 100 languages through our built-in translation tool. This makes safer-pregnancy guidance more accessible to thousands of families every year.
But families tell us they want more.
And to reach everyone confidently, especially those with low literacy, complex pregnancies, or who rely on printed materials we need professionally translated versions of our most important resources.
Your support can help us:
✔ Fund accurate, professionally translated life-saving information
✔ Take our movement guidance, symptom checklists and safety messages into more communities
✔ Make printed and downloadable resources accessible beyond English
✔ Break down language barriers that stop parents acting early
Even a small donation helps us reach families who might otherwise miss vital information.

👉 Click the link below to donate today.

https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Together, we can make safer pregnancy information truly accessible, and help save babies' lives.

21/11/2025

After today’s ITV News report on pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and the government’s promise to act after hearing “deeply tragic” stories, we wanted to say this clearly:
Severe pregnancy sickness is not “just part of being pregnant”. It is a serious complication that deserves to be taken seriously.

HG can cause relentless nausea, vomiting, dehydration, rapid weight loss and severe mental health impacts. Campaigners have worked for years to highlight how many are still dismissed, denied medication, or told to “get on with it” when they’re desperately unwell.

At MAMA Academy, we stand with Pregnancy Sickness Support and everyone who has shared their story to push for change, including better training for healthcare professionals, consistent treatment pathways, and care that listens from the first appointment.

We’re resharing a clip from a previous MAMA Academy podcast episode where Charlotte from Pregnancy Sickness Support explains what HG really is, and why it’s not your fault if you’re struggling.
If you’re experiencing severe nausea or vomiting in pregnancy:
• Speak to your GP, midwife or maternity triage as soon as possible
• If you can’t keep fluids down or feel very unwell, this is urgent. please seek medical help
• In an emergency, call 999
And if someone has dismissed your symptoms but you know something isn’t right: you’re allowed to ask again. You deserve to be heard.

If you’d like to hear our full conversation with Charlotte, you can find that episode of The MAMA Podcast and others by following the following links:

Spotify: https://shorturl.at/Omsbr
Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/b7ubb
Youtube: https://shorturl.at/pQJXg

21/11/2025

21/11/2025

You’re a part of this journey too and you can play a huge role in helping keep your baby safe. Movement awareness isn’t about counting kicks or stressing over numbers. It’s simply about knowing your baby’s usual pattern and acting early if something feels different.
Here are 5 simple ways partners can support:
1️⃣ Notice pattern changes together
Ask regularly: “Does baby feel like their usual self today?”
You’re not tracking, just helping tune in.
2️⃣ Save the triage number
Keep it in both your phones so there’s no delay when something feels “off”.
3️⃣ Log concerns (briefly!)
If your partner mentions a difference, make a quick note. Patterns are easier to recognise when you’re not relying on memory alone.
4️⃣ Go along to checks when you can
Two sets of ears. Extra reassurance. Shared decisions. It all helps.
5️⃣ Trust your gut too
If you notice your partner seems unsure, worried, or sensing a change, encourage them to call. You will never waste anyone’s time by getting checked.
Your support makes a genuine difference.
Being present, noticing changes, and acting early are acts of love and they matter more than you think.
💬 Partners: what’s one thing you already do from this list?

19/11/2025

Transparent, timely data saves lives. That’s why we’re releasing the 2024 stillbirth and neonatal death statistics of NHS Trusts using data obtained through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
Official figures are not yet publicly available, but we know how important it is for maternity teams, commissioners, researchers, and safety leads to understand trends as soon as possible.

Our new webpage includes:
- 2024 Trust-level stillbirth and neonatal death figures
- The ability to compare with 2023 data
- Clear explanations of why early data matters
- How these insights can support safer maternity care

We believe families and professionals deserve clarity and that accessible, accurate data can help drive improvements across the UK.

Explore the full data page here:

2024 Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Statistics by NHS Trust (FOI Data) Early-access baby loss statistics to support safer maternity care Understanding accurate and up-to-date baby loss statistics is crucial for improving maternity safety across the UK. Official 2024 stillbirth and neonatal death data...

18/11/2025

Less movement? Different to usual? Call now.
Your baby’s movements are an important sign of their wellbeing.

If those movements ever feel less, slower, or different to what’s normal for your baby, it’s important to call your midwife or maternity triage immediately.
Not later.
Not “after I’ve waited an hour.”
Now.
You will never waste anyone’s time by getting checked.

Every baby has their own pattern, and you are the expert in what feels normal for yours. Trust that.

💬 Did you know reduced movement is always a reason to call triage?

17/11/2025

It’s disappointing, though sadly not surprising, to hear that the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation is facing further delays in England. Families who have experienced loss or trauma should never be asked to wait longer for answers. Listening to them isn’t optional; it’s the foundation of safer care. And every delay chips away at trust that is already stretched thin.
What we need now is clarity, transparency, and a timetable that’s realistic and respected. Because every day without progress is another day when the same failings could be repeated, and that is simply not something we can accept.
At MAMA Academy, driving systemic change is a core part of what we do. We’ll be meeting with the chair of the investigation, Baroness Amos, very soon. If you’d like your experience or concerns fed into that conversation, please reach out by either messaging us on our social media platforms or by emailing contact@mamaacademy.org.uk. We are here to amplify your voice and make sure families are not sidelined in the process designed to protect them.
And if you’re currently pregnant, our website is full of evidence-based, accessible information, available in multiple languages, to help you feel confident and empowered throughout your pregnancy.
Your story matters. Your safety matters. And together, we can push for the maternity care every family deserves.

17/11/2025

Today we’re recognising the families whose babies arrive earlier than expected and the strength, love and resilience that carry them through those first uncertain days.

As a safer pregnancy charity, our mission is to help parents feel informed, confident, and empowered to act early when something doesn’t feel right. Early recognition and early care can make a real difference, and World Prematurity Day is a strong reminder of why that matters.

For parents who may be facing a preterm birth, or who simply want to feel more prepared just in case, we’ve created a simple, practical guide:
Preparing for NICU: What Parents Can Expect and How to Feel More Ready

A calm, parent-focused overview of what NICU is, what choices you still have, and simple ways to look after yourself through the journey.
You can read it here: https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/news/preparing-for-nicu-what-parents-can-expect-and-how-to-feel-more-ready/

Today is not only about raising awareness, it’s about reminding families that they deserve clear information, compassionate support, and the confidence to trust their instincts.

16/11/2025

You might not carry the bump, but your support, calm, and care carry so much else.
From remembering appointments and keeping snacks nearby, to offering reassurance in the middle of the night, every small action makes a real difference.
But here’s something we don’t say enough:
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, unsure, or stretched thin.
Parenthood doesn’t come with an instruction manual, and the pressure to “hold it all together” can feel heavy.
If you’ve been:
💭 Worrying you’re not doing enough
💭 Feeling disconnected or anxious
💭 Finding it hard to talk about how you really feel

You’re not alone, and you’re not failing.
Asking for help isn't a weakness, it’s a strength.

Whether that’s talking with your partner, reaching out to a friend, or calling our counselling helpline (free, confidential, and open to both parents) on 0203 6428 121.
You deserve support too.

💬 Save this post as your reminder:
You matter. You’re learning. You’re doing better than you think.