Tag Archives: induction

Big Babies: the risk of care provider fear

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Dr Rachel Reed

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

Why Induction Matters: book release

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Dr Rachel Reed

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 induction, intervention | 25 Comments

Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes: impatience and risk

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Dr Rachel Reed

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

Post-Dates Induction of Labour: balancing risks

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Dr Rachel Reed

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 ARM, consent, induction, information giving, intervention, law, negligence, oxytocin, pitocin, risk, syntocinon | 263 Comments

In Defence of the Amniotic Sac

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Dr Rachel Reed

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 →

Posted in birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged amniotic fluid, amniotic sac, ARM, birth, caul, contractions, heart rate, induction, intervention, syntocinon, waterbirth | 226 Comments

Induction: a step by step guide

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Dr Rachel Reed

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 →

Posted in birth, intervention | Tagged amniotic fluid, birth, induction, information giving, intervention, oxytocin, syntocinon | 169 Comments

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

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Dr Rachel Reed

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 amniotic fluid, ARM, birth, induction, intervention, pregnancy, risk, syntocinon | 157 Comments

The Effective Labour Contraction

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Dr Rachel Reed

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 →