Category Archives: birth

VBAC: making a mountain out of a molehill

Posted on June 15, 2016 by

VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) is big. A google search for ‘vbac’ results in ‘about 795,000’ results. Reviews, guidelines, policies and statements are being produced by every organisation with an interest in birth. Support groups and networks are growing. I am … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , | 343 Comments

In Celebration of the OP Baby

Posted on June 8, 2016 by

Updated: February 2018 How many times have you heard “I had to have an epidural/c-section/ventouse/etc. because my baby was facing the wrong way”? An occipito posterior (OP) position occurs when the baby enters the pelvis facing forward with his back … Continue reading →

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

The Placenta: essential resuscitation equipment

Posted on April 13, 2016 by

Updated: January 2018 Knowledge about the short-term and long-term benefits of ‘delayed cord clamping’ is finally making it into practice. Midwives and in some cases obstetricians are realising the importance of allowing the placenta to finish circulating blood before intervening. … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 109 Comments

The Human Microbiome: considerations for pregnancy, birth and early mothering

Posted on April 13, 2016 by

This post was co-authored by Jessie Johnson-Cash and based on her presentation at the USC Midwifery Education Day. The human microbiome is rather fashionable in the world of science at the moment. The NIH Human Microbiome Project has been set up to … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, midwifery practice, pregnancy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 119 Comments

Perineal Protectors?

Posted on January 13, 2016 by

Updated: March 2017 Perineal tearing and/or grazing is common during birth. Two thirds of women will sustain damage to their perineum during birth (AIHW 2012). You can find out more about types/grading of perineal trauma here. This post will discuss ‘protecting … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , | 104 Comments

In Defence of the Amniotic Sac

Posted on September 16, 2015 by

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. Women need to … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 221 Comments

Cord Blood Collection: confessions of a vampire-midwife

Posted on September 16, 2015 by

Updated: January 2018 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 | Tagged , , , , , | 177 Comments