Midwives from Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust are celebrating International Day of the Midwife by raising funds through a bake-off cake sale to help provide care for women and babies in deprived areas of the world.

Run by the International Confederation of Midwives, International Day of the Midwife is on 5 May. This year’s theme, Women and Newborns: The Heart of Midwifery, aims to highlight the invaluable work of midwives around the world who ensure mums and their babies receive the quality care they deserve.

Julie Shaw, Senior Midwife at the trust, which runs King’s Mill Hospital, said: “Our midwives focus on what is most important to each woman’s unique situation.

“We routinely provide different options for pregnancy and birth as well as individualised antenatal care pathways, one-to-one skilled care in hospital or at home at the time of birth, and management and referral for any health complications.

“We also offer emotional support, nutritional education, smoking cessation advice, breastfeeding support and assistance with family planning.”

The trust has 140 midwives looking after women from Mansfield, Ashfield, Newark, Sherwood and Derbyshire – in hospital or in the community setting – giving them timely access to the best possible care before, during and after pregnancy and birth. Over 3,400 babies were delivered by the Trust’s midwives last year.

Helen Evens, Community Midwife, said: “Using best practice, evidence and research we are able to ensure a woman’s individual needs are understood. This personalised healthcare experience leads to a safe, positive and happy outcome.”