Relationships
Anna
- Member of the National Infant Feeding Network (NIFN) for universities coordinated by the UK Baby Friendly Initaive, UNICEF. See here:
https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/advocacy/infant-feeding-networks/national-infant-feeding-network-for-universities/ - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- PhD student Maternal and Infant Nutrition and Nurture research unit – MAINN at UCLan. See here:
http://www.uclan.ac.uk/research/explore/groups/maternal_and_infant_nutrition_and_nurture_unit.php - Patron of Birmingham City University Midwifery Society
Sheena
- Chair of Iolanthe Midwifery Trust
- Co-lead Midwifery Unit Network
- Visiting Fellow Bournemouth University
- Trustee Midwives for Women
Sheena consistently models professionalism and promotes a caring, compassionate attitude towards women and healthcare professionals. Leading by example, her passion and commitment to improving the experience of maternity care for childbearing women has moved and inspired me deeply. I first met Sheena when she was giving a talk on the importance of language around birth, something she continues to promote and which I too take very seriously. Her mindful approach to language and communication makes her highly personable and as such she is widely loved and appreciated by the midwives of the future (students).
Sheena gives talks across the UK, listening to, and giving a voice to midwives working today and using social media to create virtuous circles and networks of healthcare professionals globally. Sheena has supported me, not just with her words but with her solid presence – she really listens and makes time for people, modelling the true meaning of midwife as ‘with woman’, with integrity and warmth.
Sheena Byrom has been instrumental in this achievement. There were two significant ways in which she has helped shape the movement for normal birth in Bulgaria. First, she was able to identify other experienced midwives besides herself who would have the emotional capacity to understand the cultural context of birth-related issues. In this way, Sheena’s enthusiasm to gather a team who can propel the concept of compassionate care proved fundamental in initiating the leap.
Second, Sheena herself devoted much of her personal time to be physically, as well as from a distance, available to teach, guide and assess how a midwifery-led unit can operate successfully in a country that denigrates midwifery care. Overall, we would not be able to be where we are today – founders of the first autonomous midwifery practice and AMU – if it hadn’t been for Sheena’s ability to recognize our struggle, connect us with brilliant experts, participate in structuring the model of care we provide, teaching us clinical skills and serving as an outstanding example of what a midwife should stand up for. We are incredibly lucky to have met her.
This approach is built on a solid base of experience and knowledge of midwifery and health care and human relationships. Midwifery is about connection; Sheena builds connections through relationship, through social media, through her words and images that are vivid and inspiring. I have never known her leave a stone unturned in the work of justice for individuals and midwifery. Every person I have known who has turned to her for help has received her empathy, advice, full attention and advocacy. Sheena leaves no ethical issue unresolved, reaching out to anyone involved in difficult issues to find a resolution.
This is on top of substantial development work, writing blogs books and articles, serving midwifery through charities and as Board Director for the RCM until recently. At the bottom of all of this is a commitment and passion for midwifery and good maternity care, courage and a very big heart. Sheena is a wonderful midwife of midwives.