Welcome to the MacDonald Obstetric Medicine Society

Opportunity to Join the MOMS Executive Committee!

Published 28/01/2021

Following discussion and input from our membership we are excited to open 4 positions to join our executive committee.

1. Education Lead
Role involves leading on content organisation of the annual MOMS meeting and other educational ventures from the society.

2. Treasurer
Role involves access to bank and PayPal accounts and annual report formation and submission for Companies House and Charities Commission.

3. Physician Representative
The role of the physician representative is to ensure that physicians views are represented by MOMS, including but not limited to championing physician training and liaising with specialist societies. Their role also involves furthering understanding and knowledge of obstetric medicine and MOMS in physician groups and training.

4. Midwife Representative
As a new role we would welcome candidates to indicate how they feel a midwifery representative would complement and support the mission statements of MOMS. This may include but is not limited to the promotion of MDT working, assisting in the formation of maternal medicine networks as well as highlighting and supporting the role of midwives in the care of pregnant women with medical problems.

Candidates should be members of the Society and should register their interest by emailing us to our society email address: macdonaldobstetricmedicine@gmail.com.
Please send a 150 word paragraph about yourself and what you would bring to the role and MOMS as a society. You may apply for more than one role as appropriate.

The closing date for expression of interests and your application is 11pm, Friday 12th February 2021.

COVID-19 Vaccine in Pregnancy Information Sheet

Published 13/01/2021

We are pleased to be involved in the formation of this this information sheet alongside the RCOG, RCM and UKTIS to help inform pregnant women to whom a COVID-19 vaccine is offered!

Click here for pdf

Updated advice on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy and women who are breastfeeding

Published 30/12/2020

As we see another inflection point in cases of SARS-CoV2; we have good news that the Oxford University/AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccination has also received MHRA approval today. This is some comfort but due to the lack of inclusion of pregnant or breastfeeding women in the vaccine trials, data is sparse as to its efficacy and safety in this vulnerable group.

As clinicians in our particular speciality we are most acutely aware that this is, again, the most exquisite of ironies – our most vulnerable women are being discouraged from being given the vaccine.

Today, however the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have also published their latest advice.

In response, MOMS together with RCOG, RCM, UKTIS, UKOSS, BMFMS and NPEU have produced a joint statement in support of COVID-19 vaccination in clinically vulnerable pregnant women.

Read the joint statement here

We are responsible for ensuring our women get the right advice to make the right decision about Covid-19 vaccination.

Best wishes

Lucy Mackillop
President MacDonald Obstetric Medicine Society

Updated Guidance Document on Valproate

Published 11/12/2020

Updated guidance on the prescription of valproate for female patients during childbearing years has been published this week.

The guidance has been produced to inform all healthcare professionals of best practice around the use and prescribing of valproate and to support them to navigate situations that could arise as a result of prescribing valproate to women during childbearing years, given the significant risk of birth defects and developmental disorders that can occur if it is taken during pregnancy.

First published last year, the updated guidance reflects minor changes made by the MHRA and changes to GMC decision-making guidelines, as well as updated input from all contributing organisations, to give healthcare professionals updated practical information and guidance on prescribing valproate to women with bipolar disorder or epilepsy, the only licensed indications for its use. It has been authored by Dr Judy Shakespeare FRCGP and Dr Sanjay M Sisodiya FRCP on behalf of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Association of British Neurologists and Royal College of Physicians, and endorsed by 19 other medical organisations.

The guidance can be accessed here.

We have also added this to our updated Guidelines page.
Do check it out for a hub of useful guidelines as well as other useful resources on our Useful Links and Resources page!

New MOMS President

Published 19/11/2020

We are pleased to formally announce Lucy Mackillop as the new MOMS President.  Looking forward to the next few years with you at the helm!

We would like to extend many thanks again to Matt Coleman for all his hard work and vision leading MOMS over the last few years.