Thursday 14 July, 5pm | Zoom

In this workshop we’ll use historic and contemporary examples of risk communication in pregnancy as a catalyst for conversation around how the archives can enlighten current practice and inform future public health communication and policy. In reacting to these materials, we will examine any developments in communication strategy, as well as the intersections or conflicts of official guidance with other sources of pregnancy information – for example, NHS antenatal information in contrast to information sourced from social media, or a doctor’s advice with “old-wives’ tales”.

Attendees will be asked to come to the workshop with one example of a pregnancy risk message, that they will be willing to share. This may be anecdotal (advice you, or someone you know, received during pregnancy), a news article, a post on social media, and can relate to anything posed as a risk during pregnancy – e.g. diet choices, exercise, vaccinations, social toxins such as alcohol or smoking, etc.

Although this workshop is concerned with messages surrounding risk in pregnancy, everyone - as healthcare service users and public audiences of healthcare communication – is welcome to attend.

Bio

Kate Errington is a PhD student at Birkbeck and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, researching the cultural history of pregnancy. She is also the co-founder of the Broadly Conceived reading group – a monthly group that focuses on all things repro, including (in)fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, maternity and more.

Kate’s research uses archival materials in dialogue with contemporary sources to explore our understanding of maternity in 20th century Britain, and to interrogate the ongoing development of public health strategies and communications directed at pregnant populations. You can contact Kate at kerrin01@student.bbk.ac.uk or @KateErrington3 (Twitter).