Re:birth is a collaborative listening project supported by the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and overseen by eight maternity service user organisations. Re:birth will hear and share service users’ and maternity professionals’ perspectives and feelings about the language we use to talk about different types of birth. It aims to develop guidance and resources to support conversations in maternity care about the risks and benefits of different types of birth, and help healthcare professionals to express what they hope for families from their birth.

Since the 1990s, the term ‘normal birth’ has been became the most commonly used phrase in the UK to describe an uncomplicated labour – alongside others like ‘physiological’, ‘straightforward’ and ‘optimal’. However, we have heard from women and families that some language used by professionals feels, to them, difficult, old fashioned or judgemental and one of these is the term ‘normal birth’.

At these online listening groups we will spend time hearing different perspectives on these words and finding some common ground. The groups will be informal, open and friendly.

If you would like to join a group, please register your interest and availability here and we will be in touch. There are limited places and we want to hear from as broad a group as possible. We may not be able to include everyone who applies, but there will be other ways to get involved in the coming months.

Dates for the online groups

Tuesday 21st September 12-2pm
Tuesday 28th September 6-8pm
Tuesday 12th October 10am-12pm
Tuesday 19th October 12-2pm
Tuesday 2nd November 6-8pm

We’re very much looking forward to hearing from you.

Dr Juliet Rayment Re:birth Research Fellow

Data Protection

By taking part in this event/project that you consent for your data/film/audio recording to be used and understand the decision to share information with the RCM is entirely your own. We will be following the RCM data protection policy and data retention policies. https://www.rcm.org.uk/privacy-policy-terms-of-use/

Re:birth Listening Groups