Dr Rachel Reed
midwife • author • educator
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Similar sized hens = different sized eggs. Nature is full of normal variations. Just like childbirth.Rather than change (or eliminate) prescribed timeframes, women are subjected to unnecessary medical interventions. Blog post: https://midwifethinking.com/2015/05/02/vaginal-examinations-a-symptom-of-a-cervix-centric-birth-culture/Thanks for the feedback Melissa! 💜Certain books have helped me understand what is going on around me during particular phases of life. The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf provided insight into my experience as a teenage girl in a world that expected 'too much'. Today, I am navigating the perimenopause, and these two books have put the feelings and experiences of this phase of life into words. I am so grateful to the authors @sharonblackiemythmakings and Victoria Smith (not on IG).Updated blog post: Five years on, there is still no good evidence supporting the effectiveness of the 'perineal bundle' in reducing perineal trauma during physiological birth. However, there is research showing its negative impact on women's experience of birth and midwives' practice. Like most routine interventions, the bundle was introduced without evidence and remains despite new evidence. The 'perineal bundle' is here to stay because it meets the needs of the maternity system. Blog post: https://midwifethinking.com/2018/05/09/the-perineal-bundle-and-midwifery/Considering childbirth as a rite of passage allows us to acknowledge that self-transformation occurs regardless of where it happens or how it unfolds. It supports women to find their individual pathways through their rite of passage and requires care providers to consider how their actions and interactions influence women’s experiences.Top Posts
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Recent Posts
Archived by the National Library of Australia and Partners
Category Archives: midwifery practice
Big Babies: the risk of care provider fear
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 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: April 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
230 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