murph, Author at Amma Birth Companions

The forgotten stories of violence against women

The tragic death of Sarah Everard has sparked widespread outrage and debate about violence against women. But why are we only starting to pay attention now, when the experiences of those most affected are consistently overlooked? [Content warning: sexual violence, rape, transphobia, racism] The story of Sarah Everard’s murder hit close to home for women […]

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Honouring the postpartum mind

Mental Health, Pregnancy / murph

Written by Jenny Block In my work as a postpartum doula and mentor to Amma’s postnatal volunteers, I always try to gaze at each family I support through a holistic lens, where all the various interconnected elements of their particular circumstance are considered. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and it’s not my goal to lecture

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BBC Alba report on mother & baby unit in Glasgow

Media, Reports / murph

On March 25, Angela Maclean from BBC Eorpa reported on the effect of the pandemic on refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow. During the first lockdown many were moved into hotel accommodation for their safety and welfare but concerns emerged about the effect of this on their mental health. A year on many remain in

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What the inhumane ‘New Plan for Immigration’ means for asylum seekers

Advocacy, Immigration, Racism / murph

On March 24, Home Secretary Priti Patel unveiled the government’s ‘New Plan for Immigration’ policy paper. It proposes that only people arriving to the UK through official routes, like resettlement schemes, will be permitted to settle in the UK permanently. If put into place, this policy would deny refugee status to anyone who passes through

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What the 2020 MBRRACE-UK reports reveal about disparities in perinatal care

Reports / murph

In December 2020, MBRRACE-UK released its Perinatal Mortality Surveillance Report which showed that Black and Black British, and Asian and Asian British babies are up to twice as likely to be stillborn or die neonatally. Then, in January, the latest ‘Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care’ report was released, highlighting that Black birthing people are four

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What I learned from my Granny about birth: 78 years later

Companionship / murph

At the birth of my father, Elena Zadik (better known to me as Granny), certainly wasn’t afraid to challenge the medical staff with her progressive approach. But she also felt vulnerable and alone. My aunt recently stumbled across an article that my grandmother wrote which really hit home for me. I was delighted to find

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How two mums met through Amma and became friends for life

Case Studies, Peer Support / murph

2020 has been a difficult year. When the business of normal life came to a stop, many people struggled with feelings of isolation—especially those with new babies. For mothers like Erica and Alvina, the Amma Mamas online peer support group created an opportunity to form a lasting friendship, even during lockdown. Erica says, “Being alone

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Welcome to our new volunteers

Volunteers / murph

In August, we welcomed a new cohort of birth and mother companions to our team. Covid-19 restrictions forced us to get creative with our training delivery, but this amazing team of volunteers powered through “Zoom fatigue” to take part in six weeks of online training, along with a few outdoor sessions. We’re so impressed by

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Human trafficking in Scotland: What you need to know

Advocacy / murph

For most people, human trafficking is something only read about in the news or seen in a documentary. But sadly, thousands of women, men, and children around the world have experienced it firsthand—including here in Scotland. What is human trafficking? Human trafficking is a crime that involves selling or trading human beings for the purposes

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Team Amma takes part in Great Scottish Run

Fundraising, Volunteers / murph

Team Amma smashed its fundraising target for this year’s Great Scottish Run, raising over £1200 to support refugee and asylum seeking women facing pregnancy and birth alone. On Sunday, 29 September, seven dedicated volunteers—each with varying level of running experience—took part in the Great Scottish Run. Together, they completed the 10 kilometre course and raised

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