Tag Archives: induction

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 , , , , , | 25 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

Posted in intervention, publications | Tagged , | 25 Comments

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

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Post-Dates Induction of Labour: balancing risks

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

In Defence of the Amniotic Sac

Updated: September 2023 Artificial rupture of membranes (ARM) aka ‘breaking the waters’ is a common birth intervention. However, an ARM should not be carried out without a good understanding of how the amniotic sac and fluid function in labour. Women … Continue reading

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Induction: a step by step guide

Updated: August 2019 This post has been inspired by conversations I’ve had with women about their experiences of induction. Induction of labour is increasingly common, yet women often seem to be very mis-informed about what it involves, or what was … Continue reading

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Amniotic Fluid Volume: too much, too little, or who knows?

Updated: May 2023 This post is in response to readers asking me to cover the topic of induction for low amniotic fluid volume (AFV). Most of the content is available in textbooks and I have provided references/links for research where … Continue reading

Posted in birth, intervention, pregnancy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 157 Comments

The Effective Labour Contraction

Updated: February 2022 One of my failings as a midwife is my inability to assess the strength and effectiveness of a uterine contraction. This presents a problem in the hospital setting as midwives are often asked ‘how strong are her … Continue reading

Posted in birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , , | 106 Comments