Research & Publications

Research That Improves Lives

Research has the greatest impact when it informs practice, shapes education and contributes to better outcomes for women, babies and families.

Throughout her career, Dr Lucy Hope has focused on research that addresses real-world challenges in maternity care. Her work combines rigorous academic enquiry with a commitment to ensuring that evidence is translated into everyday clinical practice, helping healthcare professionals deliver safer, more effective and compassionate care.

Her research spans maternal and infant health, breastfeeding, postnatal care, perinatal mental health, evidence-based practice and midwifery education, with a particular interest in understanding how evidence can improve experiences and outcomes for women, babies and their families.

Research at a Glance

  • Registered Midwife since 2002
  • PhD awarded for research into breastfeeding peer support
  • More than 15 years of published research
  • Peer-reviewed journal articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and book chapters
  • Supervisor of Master’s and PhD research
  • Research spanning breastfeeding, postnatal care, perinatal mental health, maternity services and midwifery education
  • Collaborative research with NHS organisations, universities and multidisciplinary research teams

Research Interests

Current areas of research include:

  • Breastfeeding support and infant nutrition
  • Maternal and infant health
  • Postnatal care
  • Perinatal mental health
  • Evidence-informed maternity care
  • Midwifery education
  • Health promotion
  • Research implementation and knowledge translation
  • Compassionate leadership in healthcare
  • Improving outcomes for women, babies and families

Research Philosophy

Research should never exist simply to generate publications.

Every research project should contribute to improving healthcare, strengthening education or informing policy. Throughout her career, Dr Hope has sought to bridge the gap between research and practice, ensuring that evidence is accessible, relevant and capable of making a meaningful difference to the care women and families receive.

This commitment underpins her work as a researcher, educator and academic leader.

Featured Research

Breastfeeding Support

Breastfeeding has been a central theme throughout Dr Hope’s research career.

Her doctoral research investigated the effectiveness of peer support interventions for breastfeeding, combining randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews and qualitative research to better understand how women can be supported during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

This programme of research has contributed to the evidence base supporting breastfeeding services across the UK and has informed healthcare professionals, commissioners and policymakers seeking to improve breastfeeding outcomes.

Featured Publications

Maternal and Infant Health

Improving outcomes for women and babies remains at the heart of Dr Hope’s work.

Recent research has explored postnatal care, infant wellbeing, maternity services, neonatal outcomes and parents’ experiences of early parenthood.

Featured Publications

Evidence into Practice

A defining characteristic of Dr Hope’s work has been translating evidence into everyday maternity care.

Her research considers not only what works, but how evidence can be implemented through education, policy and professional practice.

Featured Publications

Publications

Dr Hope has published under both Dr Lucy Hope and her previous surname Lucy Ingram (L. Ingram).

A complete bibliography of peer-reviewed journal articles, systematic reviews, book chapters and conference outputs is available through the University of Worcester research repository.

View the complete publication record:

https://eprints.worc.ac.uk/view/author/Hope=3ALucy=3A=3A.default.html

Research Supervision

Alongside her own research programme, Dr Hope supervises Master’s and PhD students undertaking research across maternity care, healthcare education and evidence-based clinical practice.

She values collaborative, interdisciplinary research and enjoys supporting emerging researchers as they develop projects capable of making a meaningful difference to healthcare.

Collaboration

Dr Hope welcomes opportunities to collaborate with:

  • Universities and higher education institutions
  • NHS organisations
  • Research groups and academic networks
  • Professional bodies
  • Charities and third-sector organisations
  • National and international collaborators

Areas of collaboration include:

  • Research partnerships
  • Grant development
  • Knowledge exchange
  • Educational innovation
  • Conference presentations
  • Professional workshops
  • Multidisciplinary research projects
  • Research supervision

Research Impact

Research only achieves its full value when it improves lives.

Throughout her career, Dr Hope has remained committed to producing research that informs practice, shapes education and contributes to better outcomes for women, babies and families.

Whether through breastfeeding research, maternity services, healthcare education or collaborative research partnerships, her work continues to bridge the gap between evidence and practice—helping ensure that research translates into meaningful improvements in care.