Category Archives: intervention

Big Babies: the risk of care provider fear

Posted on September 2, 2019 by

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 , , , , , | 12 Comments

Why Induction Matters: book release

Posted on October 5, 2018 by

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

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 , , , , | 37 Comments

Gestational Diabetes: beyond the label

Posted on March 20, 2018 by

Updated: August 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, intervention, pregnancy | 42 Comments

Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes: impatience and risk

Posted on January 11, 2017 by

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , | 227 Comments

Post-Dates Induction of Labour: balancing risks

Posted on July 13, 2016 by

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

The Anterior Cervical Lip: how to ruin a perfectly good birth

Posted on June 15, 2016 by

Here is a scenario I keep hearing over and over: A woman is labouring away and all is good. She begins to push with contractions, and her midwife encourages her to follow her body. After a little while the midwife … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , | 439 Comments

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 , , , | 345 Comments

The Placenta: essential resuscitation equipment

Posted on April 13, 2016 by

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

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 , , , , , , , , , , | 224 Comments