Research Midwife Aqeela's Story

International Day of the Midwife - 5 May

Aqeela Hamilton Consultant Midwife at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust became research active after she started her current post, however research has always formed part of her practice as a midwife and played a big part while she was completing her MBA.

One of the studies she is working on in maternity is the CHAPTER Study: Childbirth acquired perineal trauma study. Its aim is to determine the prevalence, complications, health consequences and burden for those women who experience childbirth related perineal trauma. It is an observational study and will follow these women up to 12-month post birth.

Aqeela says: "There are several reasons why research is important - it helps to identify best practice in maternity leading to better health outcomes for mum and baby. It also contributes to the development of new treatments and interventions for conditions that affect pregnant women. An example of this is the Giant PANDA study which is evaluating the effect of different antihypertensive drugs in women with pregnancy hypertension on maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes.

"For me, as a Consultant Midwife, research supports me in my role, to empower women and families to make informed decisions about the care they receive and when planning their birth. It is clear to see that research in maternity plays a crucial role in improving outcomes for women and their babies enhancing the quality of care and advancing knowledge in our field to support choice.

"Research goes hand in hand with our role as midwives and can have profound impact on the care we give; through research we can empower, advocate and collaborate with our women about their care, but it also provides personal fulfilment as you will be contributing to make a tangible difference in the lives of women and their babies."