Author Archives: MidwifeThinking

About MidwifeThinking

Midwife • Doctor of Philosophy • Author • Presenter • Researcher

Big Babies: the risk of care provider fear

Posted on September 2, 2019 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: June 2022 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 … Continue reading →

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

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

No Woman’s Land: a student midwife’s call (guest post)

Posted on April 9, 2019 by MidwifeThinking

I received the following from an Australian midwifery student who has agreed for me to publish the post anonymously.  Whilst it can be confronting, it is so important to listen to midwifery students with open ears and hearts. They see … Continue reading →

Posted in guest post, midwifery practice, opinion and thoughts | Tagged , | 44 Comments

Why Induction Matters: book release

Posted on October 5, 2018 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: July 2019 My 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in intervention, publications | Tagged , | 23 Comments

Perineal ‘Bundles’ and Midwifery

Posted on May 9, 2018 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: August 2020 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 , , , , | 41 Comments

Gestational Diabetes: beyond the label

Posted on March 20, 2018 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: July 2022 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 | 65 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

Research (Bias) and Maternity Care

Posted on January 23, 2017 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: July 2019 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in midwifery practice | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Childbirth Trauma: research findings

Posted on January 11, 2017 by MidwifeThinking

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, publications | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes: impatience and risk

Posted on January 11, 2017 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: July 2019 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, intervention, midwifery practice, pregnancy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 230 Comments