"Reclaim Birth, Albany Midwives banner" [NMLH.2016.7.1]

Catalogue Number
NMLH.2016.7.1

Object Name
Banner

Title
Reclaim Birth. Albany Midwives

Place
Peckham

People
Albany midwives

Events
Reclaiming Birth march

Date
2010

Description
The Albany Midwifery Practice provided a free service as part of the NHS for women, often from more disadvantaged background around Peckham, to get care from midwives they would get to know and trust. Pregnant women would get to know two midwives, who would be with her throughout her preganany and birth, offering help and support throughout. In December 2009 Kings Healthcare Trust ended it's contract with the Albany midwives, prompting a rally in central London in March 2010, The 'Reclaiming Birth' rally was called by the Albany Mums Group, both to protest the closure and to push for better, more women-centred approaches to childbirth. It was supported by the National Childbirth Trust and the Royal College of Midwives among others. This banner were created for this rally and carried on the march in 2010, before being donated to the museum in 2013.