When Mammy met MAMA

You find me riding on a high.  I have just spent the last couple of days at the wonderful MAMA Conference in Troon.  What a gorgeous place.  I got on a plane at windy, stormy, rainy Gatwick and got off in a rather windy, rainy Glasgow.  Of course the weather changed the next day.  I think it's because the rather lovely Steve McNamara (husband and proud supporter of Cassie, one of the organisers of MAMA Conference) told me that I really needed to see the view from Troon on a clear day.  The two and a half days that I spent there were spent in glorious sunshine.  Okay so it was wintry and cold, but honestly, who knew I'd leave stormy London for bright and beautiful Troon?


My plan is to just talk about MAMA Conference, but I think that it will take more than one blog post.  I learnt so much there and so much of what I already know and feel was cemented.  What a privilege to spend time with and listen to some of the most incredible and inspirational people in the world of birth. 

• Michel Odent
• Ina May Gaskin
• Denis Walsh
• Kerstin Uvnas Moberg
• Sheena Byrom
• The wonderful publishers, Pinter and Martin

and so many others, but I will come to them as I blog.  Now, you might think that adding publishers to my list of incredible and inspirational people is odd, but not if you remember the power of the pen.  Where else are we going to find the works of amazing authors in our birthing world?  Yes, I know you can go to Amazon etc, but do they really hold some of the lesser known titles?  Do they 'big up' books about oxytocin, the workings of the womb, physiological birth etc?  It was difficult to buy books from the Pinter and Martin stall as I have so many of their titles on my bookshelves, beside my bed, in my bag, beside the kettle!


So let me open this series of blogs with a word of thanks to Cassie McNamara and Nikki who organise the MAMA Conference, who worked hard to bring together the leading lights and encourage collaboration between those of us that care so passionately about birth and the way that it works in our world.  We went from hearing about the amazing qualities of oxytocin to learning about the effects of premature clamping of the cord (thank you Dr David Hutchon and Dr Sheena Kimmond).  Along the way we learned about perinatal mental health, womb ecology, labour rhythms, challenging choices and ended the Conference being inspired by Ina May Gaskin as she talked us through confidence and trust in birth.


Bear with me, I'm gathering my thoughts and digesting all that I heard and learnt over the last few days.  If I could, I would make each and every one of you attend the next MAMA Conference in Edinburgh next year.  In fact, why don't you begin to give it some thought, oh and check out the tweets about the conference and do look for more blogs about it.  There is a lot to learn and be inspired by.  As the amazing Sheena Byrom said, it is so wonderful to see the collaboration of us all.  And in the words of the Chair, Gillian Smith, Royal College of Midwives Director for the UK Board of Scotland (phew.. what a mouthful) - "WOWSER! WOWSER! WOWSER!!!"

With the lovely Karen Law (thanks Sheena Byrom)