Dr Róisín Bailey

Roisin enjoys practising midwifery both clinically and academically. She works part-time at the University of Leicester as a midwifery lecturer and at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust as a birth centre midwife.

Roisin previously worked at Birmingham City University, where she undertook and completed her PhD before moving to the University of Leicester.

Her professional interests include infant feeding, mother-infant skin to skin contact, and baby-wearing. Roisin particularly enjoys teaching social theory in relation to midwifery and childbearing. 

Roisin is passionate about the promotion of equality, diversity, and inclusion in maternity services and higher education, and optimising the experience of students from enrolment to completion of their studies.

She am currently on a fellowship with NHS England, working on a project to reduce attrition and improve the retention of healthcare students (the RePAIR programme).

Roisin also leads on the Rainbow Hours initiative in the School of Healthcare, which facilitates drop-in sessions hosted by LGBTQ+ staff for any and all students to discuss queer issues and experiences of working in healthcare. 

Following the completion of a postgraduate certificate in research methods, I undertook my doctoral studies from 2016 - 2020 at Birmingham City University whilst working as a midwife and a graduate teaching and research assistant.

My doctoral work explored the use of a skin to skin baby-wearing garment for mothers and their newborn infants. I conducted a pilot and small mixed-method randomised controlled study to assess the garment’s effect on infant feeding and mothering practices. This research was underpinned by a salutogenic theoretical framework which seeks to understand how people stay well and generate health in times of stress. My doctoral study was supervised by Dr Helen McIntyre, Professor Merryl Harvey, and Dr Kate Thomson. 

I am cohort lead for the September 2020 cohort, and lead a range of modules. These modules include ‘anatomy and physiology for midwifery practice’, ‘additional care requirements for mothers and newborn infants’, and ‘demonstrating proficiency: midwifery practice 4’.

I lead on infant feeding across the curriculum, ensuring the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative standards are embedded and achieved. I plan and facilitate teaching in the dissection room to support students to better understand human anatomy and physiology. 

Maternal and Infant Nutrition and Nurture (MAINN) International Conference Presentation (2023) Understanding Motivations, Barriers, and Enablers to Skin to Skin Contact and Baby-wearing in Mother-Infant Dyads

2020: Birmingham City University, PhD in Health

2020: Fellowship from Advance HE (FHEA)

2016: Associate Fellowship from Advance HE (AFHEA)

2016: Birmingham City University, Post-Graduate Certificate in Research Methods

2015: Birmingham City University, First Class Honours BSc. Midwifery