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Biography
Midwifery experience includes clinical practice, research, education, management and as a supervisor of midwives. Early research interests included care during the second stage of labour, evaluation of aspects of antenatal education and the provision of social support for new mothers in the early days after childbirth.
Recent research relates to the provision of care to labouring women including its organisation; the roles of volunteer doulas in supporting disadvantaged childbearing women and further work in antenatal education.
A longstanding commitment to developing research capacity in midwifery and supporting evidence based practice, including the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence based guidelines..
External work includes membership of national and international committees and working groups.
Appointed as Professor in Midwifery in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham in September 2011, Helen leads the School's Maternal Health and Wellbeing Research Group.
Expertise Summary
Teaching Summary
I have experience in curriculum-planning and teaching on a range of midwifery programmes including undergraduate, Return to Practice and Adaptation and Masters programmes for midwives and other… read more
Research Summary
My current research reflects the themes of the Maternal Health and Wellbeing Research Grou.p
Our research programme has the following themes:
- the organisation and content of maternity care
- perinatal mental health
- motherhood and childbearing in contemporary society
My current interests include care during early labour, preparation for labour and the psychological well-being of the maternity workforce. I am also a member of several multi-disciplinary maternity research teams.
Recent Publications
ROBERTS, J, EVANS, K, SPIBY, H, EVANS, C, PALLOTTI, P and ELDRIDGE, J, 2020. Women's information needs, decision-making and experiences of membrane sweeping to promote spontaneous labour: a systematic review, Midwifery. 83, 102626 SLADE, P., WEST, H., THOMSON, G., LANE, S., SPIBY, H., EDWARDS, R. T., CHARLES, J. M., GARRETT, C., FLANAGAN, B., TREADWELL, M., HAYDEN, E. and WEEKS, A., 2020. STRAWB2 (Stress and Wellbeing After Childbirth): a randomised controlled trial of targeted self-help materials to prevent post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY. 127(7), 886-896 WALSH, D., SPIBY, H., MCCOURT, C., GRIGG CP, COLEBY D, BISHOP S, SCANLON M, CULLEY L, WILKINSON J, PACANOWSKI L and THORNTON J, 2020. Factors influencing the utilisation of free-standing and alongside midwifery units in England: a qualitative research study (vol 10, e033895, 2020) BMJ OPEN. 10(3),
Lead, Maternal Health and Wellbeing Research Group, School of Health Sciences.
Member,Research Strategy Board, School of Health Sciences
Member, Pre & Post-Doctoral Bridging Programme Management Board
I have experience in curriculum-planning and teaching on a range of midwifery programmes including undergraduate, Return to Practice and Adaptation and Masters programmes for midwives and other maternity professionals. I have been a module and programme lead on multidisciplinary research-related provision and managed education teams.
Past Research
My research has included all aspects of midwifery practice and the organisation and content of maternity care.
Previous work has included research in antenatal education, care during labour and the postpartum and includes the views and experiences of childbearing women, their families and care-givers.
Work in knowledge exchange includes the development, introduction and evaluation of evidence based guidelines for midwifery led care, midwifery care for all women during labour and induction of labour.