Maternity care crisis a national emergency, protesters claim
Maternity services are at "breaking point" and the "crisis" in maternity care should be addressed as a "national emergency", midwives have said.
The warning came as supporters of a March with Midwives campaign gathered in towns and cities across much of the UK on Sunday to raise their concerns about staffing levels, working conditions and the state of the service.
Midwives and families whose babies were delivered were among those who attended a vigil in London's Parliament Square to call on the Government to act now to tackle staffing shortages and safety in maternity units.
London-based midwife Sarah Muggleton, 27, spoke of the tiring daily grind she has faced during her six-year career.
She told the crowd in central London: "I give every drop of my energy and emotion to hormonal and sometimes traumatised women so when I get home I have nothing more I can give to myself or my loved ones. I often have to skip lunch breaks as I do 12-and-a-half-hour shifts to try and achieve the basic levels of care required of me.
"I will be lucky to go to the toilet when I want. Don't even get started on the pay."
She said the stresses of her job can include caring for a bereaved family who have just had a stillborn baby and then having to run down to another labour ward room where a woman is delivering a live baby because there is not enough staff for the required one-to-one care.
Ms Muggleton added: "I know I am not treated right and it is bad for my mental health. I know I should leave but I care so much for the women."
She said: "Maternity services are at crisis point now. We have to have improvements now. We are burnt out and crying for help now."
March with Midwives is calling on politicians to listen to all staff and the people who use maternity services, to fund the emergency retention of staff, to support student training and reduce demands on staff.
Labour MP Bell Ribeiroaddy described it as "a major disgrace" the role of a midwife does not appear to be valued enough in the modern care system.