Search Results for: placenta

An actively managed placental birth might be the best option for most women

Posted on May 5, 2012 by

The birth of the placenta is my least favourite part of the birth process. I know I have ‘issues’ and I’m working on them. Hopefully writing this blog post will be therapeutic as well as informative. I am going to … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention, uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 133 Comments

The Placenta: essential resuscitation equipment

Posted on August 26, 2010 by

Knowledge about the short-term and long-term benefits of ‘delayed cord clamping’ is finally making it into practice. Midwives and in some cases obstetricians are realising the importance of allowing the placenta to finish circulating blood before intervening. I personally don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 98 Comments

Feel the Fear and Birth Anyway

Posted on March 27, 2013 by

This is just a little post to ease me back into the blogging world (thesis finally submitted). As usual, the content is in response to a reoccurring issue and discussions with mothers and midwives. And I welcome your experiences and comments … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, opinion and thoughts | Tagged , , | 69 Comments

The Assessment of Progress

Posted on September 14, 2011 by

This article was written for AIMS Journal (2011, vol. 23, no. 2) and expands on my previous post about my New Years resolution – which by the way I have kept. AIMS have kindly allowed me to reproduce the article … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 65 Comments

Induction: a step by step guide

Posted on July 17, 2011 by

This post has been inspired by conversations I’ve had with women about their experiences of induction. Induction of labour is increasingly common, yet women often seem to be very mis-informed about what it involves, or what was done to them … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention | Tagged , , , , , , | 117 Comments

VBAC: making a mountain out of a molehill

Posted on February 23, 2011 by

VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) is big. A google search for ‘vbac’ results in ‘about 1,390,000′ results. Reviews, guidelines, policies and statements are being produced by every organisation with an interest in birth. Support groups and networks are growing. I am … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , | 239 Comments

Cord Blood Collection: confessions of a vampire-midwife

Posted on February 10, 2011 by

When I was a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed student midwife I was awarded with a certificate and a box of chocolates. My achievement was collecting the most cord blood in the hospital. At that time the Local Health District was trialling a … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, intervention | Tagged , , , , , | 122 Comments

Stages of Labour and Collusion

Posted on December 22, 2010 by

My New Years resolution is to stop colluding in the myth of stages of labour. Will you join me? This may be a little difficult as a midwife and an educator but I’ll give it a go – will you? … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , | 42 Comments

Shoulder Dystocia: the real story

Posted on December 3, 2010 by

The media have been reporting on shoulder dystocia. Apparently doctors are having to attend special classes to learn how to break babies’ bones because mothers are fat, and make their babies too big. At least that’s the story – women … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , | 88 Comments

The Curse of Meconium Stained Liquor

Posted on October 9, 2010 by

Dear unborn baby, Please consider holding your poo in until after you are born. The big people on the outside get very stressed about your poo and will want to change the way you are birthed if they find any … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , | 96 Comments