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I'm on holiday and have not packed social media 🏝️In this month's newsletter, I share my favourite research study/article of 2023 and explain why it's a winner (arriving in inboxes on the 7th of December). Subscribe to my Mailing List for a monthly newsletter featuring news (of course), evidence-based information, musings, rants and discounts on offers. The link is in my bio or visit my website www.rachelreed.website*Please read the blog post before responding with an uppity comment* Full blog post: https://midwifethinking.com/2016/06/08/in-celebration-of-the-op-baby/When birth moved from the community into hospitals it changed the mother-midwife relationship. Midwives now struggle to provide woman-centred care when they are accountable to institution-centred employers.More lessons on birth from hens 🤣"Women unravel and examine their experience with those who witnessed it, their partners, family and care providers. An essential but undervalued role of the care provider is to listen to the woman’s birth story and support this process. Listening to the birth story is also an opportunity for the care provider to ask the woman questions that reinforce her capability and power. This includes asking her what she learned about herself, where and how she experienced her power and agency, and what messages and themes lie within the story."Top Posts
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Recent Posts
Archived by the National Library of Australia and Partners
Author Archives: Dr Rachel Reed
Big Babies: the risk of care provider fear
Updated: June 2023 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 baby, caesarean, fear, induction, shoulder dystocia, ultrasound
27 Comments
Birthing the Placenta: women’s decisions and experiences
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 Australia, birth, midwifery, placenta, research
9 Comments
No Woman’s Land: a student midwife’s call (guest post)
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 guest post, midwifery
47 Comments
Why Induction Matters: book release
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
Perineal ‘Bundles’ and Midwifery
Updated: August 2023 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 Australia, law, midwifery, midwifery practices, perineum
41 Comments
Gestational Diabetes: beyond the label
Updated: November 2023 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
71 Comments
Understanding and Assessing Labour Progress
Updated: April 2023 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 birth, contractions, labour pattern, oxytocin, pushing
15 Comments
Research (Bias) and Maternity Care
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
Childbirth Trauma: research findings
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
Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes: impatience and risk
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 amniotic fluid, amniotic sac, augmentation, baby, birth, contractions, induction, nuchal cord, oxytocin, prelabour rupture of membrances, risk, syntocinon, waterbirth
232 Comments