Tag Archives: pushing

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 , , , , , , , | 40 Comments

The Anterior Cervical Lip: how to ruin a perfectly good birth

Posted on January 22, 2011 by

Here is a scenario I keep hearing over and over: A woman is labouring away and all is good. She begins to push with contractions, and her midwife encourages her to follow her body. After a little while the midwife … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , | 201 Comments

Birth from the Baby’s Perspective

Posted on August 7, 2010 by

Picture this… A mother sits holding her newborn son on a postnatal ward during visiting time. One of her visitors reaches forward, grasps the baby by the head and pulls him out of his mothers arms leaving him dangling by … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , | 57 Comments

Perineal Protectors?

Posted on August 7, 2010 by

Perineal tearing and/or grazing is common during birth. It is so normal that Sara Wickham suggests the mission to prevent tears needs to be reconsidered. This post will discuss ‘protecting the perineum’ and is based on a literature review. You can find … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , | 35 Comments

Pushing: leave it to the experts

Posted on July 30, 2010 by

A birthing woman is the expert regarding when and how she pushes. Providing directions implies she needs our guidance and we are the experts. Of course each woman and birth situation is different and in some rare circumstances guidance may … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , | 41 Comments

Listening to Baby During Labour

Posted on July 29, 2010 by

Intermittent auscultation (IA) is considered to be an important aspect of midwifery care for women during a ‘low risk’ labour. The expectation of surveillance of the baby is reflected in national guidelines and hospital policies (mostly written by obstetricians not … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments