Continuity and midwifery practice: a case study, with a focus on the midwife-mother relationship and advocating for women and their families

Introduction

Midwifery continuity of carer (MCoC) is a key theme in the Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC 2019) Standards of proficiency for midwives. At the point of registration, midwives must demonstrate that they can provide MCoC across the perinatal period in diverse settings for women, neonates and their families to provide safe and effective midwifery care (NMC 2019). With the continuing drive to implement MCoC in maternity services, and to prepare student midwives to work effectively within these models, the practice learning experience of student midwives has evolved to encompass MCoC (Royal College of Midwives (RCM) 2020^, NHS England & NHS Improvement 2021).