Author Archives: midwifethinking

About midwifethinking

Midwife and Senior Lecturer

Why Induction Matters: book release

Posted on October 5, 2018

My new book Why Induction Matters  is now available from all the usual retailers: Amazon; Book Depository; Booktopia; Capers Bookstore; Wordery Around 1 in 4 women have their labour induced (1 in 3 in the UK and Australia). This book is for women … Continue reading →

Posted in uncategorized | 23 Comments

The Perineal ‘Bundle’ and Midwifery

Posted on May 9, 2018

Updated: December 2018 I’ve tried to avoid tackling this issue for months now but it won’t go away. It seems that the ‘bundle’ is one of the main topics of concern amongst midwives and students at the moment. So here … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention, law, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , | 36 Comments

Gestational Diabetes: beyond the label

Posted on March 20, 2018

Updated: January 2019 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, pregnancy | 33 Comments

Understanding and assessing labour progress

Posted on February 3, 2017

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 me to write … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, midwifery practice, uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Research (Bias) and Maternity Care

Posted on January 23, 2017

The childbearing experience has always been unpredictable and potentially dangerous. In response, humans have sought ways to create a sense of control and minimise danger. Practices (actions) aimed at creating a sense of control reflect the culture from which they … Continue reading →

Posted in midwifery practice, uncategorized | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Childbirth Trauma: care provider actions and interactions

Posted on January 11, 2017

A big THANK YOU  to all the women and men who shared their experiences of traumatic childbirth for Christian Inglis’ Honours study. There was so much data that Christian chose to focus on paternal mental health for his thesis and publication. Later … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes: impatience and risk

Posted on January 11, 2017

Amniotic sac and fluid play an important role in the labour process and usually remain intact until the end of labour. However, around 10% of women will experience their waters breaking before labour begins. The standard approach to this situation is to induce labour by using prostaglandins … Continue reading →

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