Search Results for: Placenta

Birthing the Placenta: women’s decisions and experiences

Posted on April 30, 2019 by MidwifeThinking

We have just published new research findings. You can access the full journal article free here: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth There has been a lot of research exploring the outcomes related to interventions during the birth of the placenta. I … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, midwifery practice, publications | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Big Babies: the risk of care provider fear

Posted on September 2, 2019 by MidwifeThinking

Big babies are normal in well resourced countries. Over 10% of babies born in the UK and Australia weigh 4kg (8lb 13oz) or more. Healthy well nourished women grow healthy well nourished babies. Genetic factors also influence the size of … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention, midwifery practice, pregnancy, uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 25 Comments

The Placenta: essential resuscitation equipment

Posted on April 13, 2016 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: September 2019 The common practice of premature cord clamping has been challenged in recent years due to a greater understanding of how this intervention disrupts the physiology of placental transfusion (Mercer & Skovgaard 2002). Premature cord clamping results in … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 115 Comments

Gestational Diabetes: beyond the label

Posted on March 20, 2018 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: December 2021 I have written this blog post in response to readers’ requests. Trying to make sense of the research and guidelines hurt my brain, and I almost gave up a few times. So, for those who asked – I … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, intervention, pregnancy | 63 Comments

Post-Dates Induction of Labour: balancing risks

Posted on July 13, 2016 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: August 2019 In Australia 33% of labours are induced (40.5% of first time mothers). The most common reason for induction is to prevent a ‘prolonged pregnancy’. That’s an awful lot of babies outstaying their welcome and requiring eviction. I am … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, intervention | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 263 Comments

An actively managed placenta may be the best option for most women

Posted on March 11, 2015 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: February 2022 The birth of the placenta is my least favourite part of the birth process. Hopefully writing this blog post will be therapeutic as well as informative. I am going to refrain from referring to the birth of … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention | Tagged , , , , | 296 Comments

Cord Blood Collection: confessions of a vampire-midwife

Posted on September 16, 2015 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: February 2022 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, intervention, law | Tagged , , , , , , | 178 Comments

Understanding and Assessing Labour Progress

Posted on February 3, 2017 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: October 2019 I have previously written about how the current framework for understanding and assessing labour progress is inaccurate, not supported by evidence, and fails to incorporate women’s experience of birth. This post is in response to readers asking … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

In Defence of the Amniotic Sac

Posted on September 16, 2015 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: May 2022 Artificial rupture of membranes (ARM) aka ‘breaking the waters’ is a common intervention during birth. However, an ARM should not be carried out without a good understanding of how the amniotic sac and fluid function in labour. … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 224 Comments

Index

Posted on August 15, 2015 by MidwifeThinking

Below is a list of all my blog posts in alphabetical order (excluding ‘the’, ‘a’, etc). The posts are updated regularly with new research and resources: An actively managed placental birth might be the best option for most women The … Continue reading →

22 Comments