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You can find my blog, podcast, YouTube, articles, books, courses and collective at www.rachelreed.website or via the link in my bio.I've recorded an audio version of my Big Babies blog post as an experiment for those who like to listen (also on YT). Let me know if you want more audio blog posts. You can find the written version in the usual place: https://midwifethinking.com/2019/09/02/big-babies-the-risk-of-care-provider-fear/We see echoes of this today in midwifery textbooks and knowledge.One of the hardest aspects of being a care provider or educator is managing our egos (I include myself here). We encourage pregnant women to develop self-knowledge, but we also need to develop our own self-knowledge. This is why I include these conversations, reflections and activities in my Reclaiming Childbirth Course.My paper copy arrived today. Another brilliant book by my mate Dr Sara Wickham. I've been waiting eagerly for this one to arrive. It is such an important topic, so many women have their birth experiences de-railed unnecessarily. As per tradition, I attempted to get a pet to participate in a photoshoot. As per tradition, I failed. 🤣 @drsarawickhamSince the wholesale medicalisation of birth, knowledge of birth physiology has continued to decline. This book from the 1940s (post-medicalisation) explains how the amniotic sac functions during labour. It reflects Friedman's findings (see previous post) and current research. Today, this knowledge has been replaced with a belief that amniotomy speeds up spontaneous labour.Top Posts
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Archived by the National Library of Australia and Partners
Category Archives: midwifery practice
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
25 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
46 Comments
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
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
Responsibilities in the mother-midwife relationship
Updated: April 2020 When I facilitate workshops with midwives and students, there is always a lot of discussion and debate about professional responsibilities in the mother-midwife relationship. These debates often get heated, and the complexities of legal, professional, and ethical issues … Continue reading
Posted in law, midwifery practice, opinion and thoughts, uncategorized
Tagged information giving, law, risk
29 Comments