# Maternity Care (OxMater)

**Source**: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/hls/groups/maternity-and-childbirth-oxmater
**Parent**: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/engage-and-innovate/consultancy

Group Leader(s):
[Dr Ethel Burns](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/ethel-burns)

Contact:

[eburns@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:eburns@brookes.ac.uk)

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About us

Research impact

Leadership

Membership

Projects

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[About us](#research-about)
[Research impact](#research-impact)
[Leadership](#research-leadership)
[Membership](#research-team)
[Projects](#research-projects)

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## About us

The OxMater group engages in research to optimise health and wellbeing during pregnancy and beyond. The group implements the best available research into maternity care provision and actively nurtures future researchers.

The team collaborates with researchers internationally, who include partners in Australia, Ireland, Italy and USA.

### Part of

- [Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/osnm "Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery")
- [Centre for Healthcare Research](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/hls/centres/centre-for-healthcare-research)

### Related courses

- [Midwifery - Pre-registration (MSc / PGDip / PGCert)](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/midwifery-pre-registration)
- [Professional Doctorate in Midwifery (DMid)](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/research/prof-doc-in-midwifery)
- [Midwifery (BSc (Hons))](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/midwifery)
- [Midwifery (Post Experience/ 2nd Registration) (BSc (Hons))](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/midwifery-2nd-registration)

## Research impact

Research from the group, including multiple systematic reviews of the literature, has led to a greater understanding of how being immersed in water offers key benefits to women and their babies during childbirth.

Research from the group has also lead to the development of innovative Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses and change in clinical practice. An example being the development of the e-learning tool ['estiMATE'](https://www.all4birth.com/courses/estimate-an-e-learning-tool-for-estimating-blood-loss-during-waterbirth/)designed to teach midwives how much blood volume in a birthing pool is safe and when they should call for a medical intervention. The tool is being used internationally by midwives, nurses, and other healthcare professionals across several countries to enhance their skills — including the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Italy, Australia, England, Scotland, the United States, New Zealand, and Germany—to enhance their skills in estimating blood loss during waterbirths.

[More about Research impact](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/research-impact-showcase/new-understanding-to-water-immersion)

## Leadership

### Dr Ethel Burns

- [eburns@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:eburns@brookes.ac.uk)

Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, Research Group Lead Maternity Care (OxMater)

[View profile  for Ethel Burns](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/ethel-burns)

## Membership

Staff members
Research students
Collaborators

- Staff
- Students
- Collaborators

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### Staff

| Name | Role | Email |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Dr Jane Carpenter](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/jane-carpenter) | Programme Lead, Midwifery and Lead Midwife for Education | [jane.carpenter@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:jane.carpenter@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Mrs Sarah Fleming](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/sarah-fleming) | Senior Lecturer | [sfleming@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:sfleming@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Dr Louise Hunter](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/louise-hunter) | Associate Lecturer | [lhunter@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:lhunter@brookes.ac.uk) |
| [Dr Ginny Mounce](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/ginny-mounce) | Senior Lecturer - Course Lead Professional Doctorate in Nursing and Midwifery | [gmounce@brookes.ac.uk](mailto:gmounce@brookes.ac.uk) |

## Projects

Active projects
Completed projects

- Active projects
- Completed projects

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### Active projects

| Project title and description | Investigator(s) | Funder(s) | Dates |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Water immersion during labour and waterbirth: women with risk factors**  An increasing number of trusts in the UK and maternity care providers abroad are expanding birthing pool access to women who have risk factors such as a larger body, a previous CS or having an induction of labour. To understand more about what typically happens to this population, we are establishing an international, multi-professional collaboration to share data that are collected as part of routine intrapartum care provision.  Clinical guidance**-**we also plan to create a clinical guideline for water immersion during labour and waterbirth. | [Dr Ethel Burns](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/ethel-burns),  [Dr Claire Feeley](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/claire-feeley) | [Oxford Brookes University](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/ "Oxford Brookes University") | From: June 2023 |
| **Fertility and Assisted Reproduction**  Collaborative work with Professor Helen Allan at Middlesex University around infertility, preconception and assisted reproduction. Currently developing a book for midwifery and nursing practice around transition to parenthood following IVF. Current joint PhD supervisor for a project on South Asian women's wellbeing after successful IVF. | [Dr Ginny Mounce](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/ginny-mounce) |  |  |
| **Maternal obesity**  This research has a particular focus on the care that women with obesity receive during the perinatal period. Research to date on obesity in childbirth has been focused mainly on public health interventions, or on risks to mother and neonate. Our focus is on how these women experience their care throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, including investigating ways to support normal birth and birth choices. A collaborative PhD studentship, co-supervised by Associate Professor Rachel Rowe from the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit and undertaken by student Claire Litchfield, is investigating use of water immersion by women with raised BMI. | [Dr Jane Carpenter](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/jane-carpenter) |  |  |

[\
Publications](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/hls/groups/maternity-and-childbirth-oxmater/publications)

[\
Events](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/hls/groups/maternity-and-childbirth-oxmater/events)

[\
Resources](https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/hls/groups/maternity-and-childbirth-oxmater/resources)

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