Tag Archives: intervention

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

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

Information Giving and the Law

I was writing a blog post on induction for prolonged pregnancy but got side tracked reflecting on a recent study day I attended about law. So, I will get this out of my system before finishing the induction post. It … Continue reading

Posted in law, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , | 49 Comments

In Celebration of the OP Baby

Updated: February 2022 How many times have you heard “I had to have an epidural/c-section/ventouse/etc. because my baby was facing the wrong way”? An occipito posterior (OP) position occurs when the baby enters the pelvis facing forward with their back … Continue reading

Posted in baby, birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 219 Comments

The Placenta: essential resuscitation equipment

Updated: August 2022 Premature cord clamping/cutting Premature cord clamping (clamping before placental transfusion is complete) has been the norm since ‘active management’ of the placenta became routine. In recent years, research has highlighted the harms caused by cutting the umbilical … Continue reading

Posted in baby, birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 117 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

Posted in birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 226 Comments

Asynclitism: a well aligned baby or a tilted head?

Asynclitism is when the baby’s head is moving through the pelvis ‘tipped’ to one side. This is usually diagnosed by a vaginal examination in labour. However, asynclitism is rarely caused by the baby having his/her head tilted to one side … Continue reading

Posted in birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , | 124 Comments

Shoulder Dystocia: the real story

Updated: August 2023 There is a lot of unwarranted fear about ‘big babies’ getting stuck. The media reflects the usual story – that women are creating a problem. This post was initially written in response to a news article entitled … Continue reading

Posted in birth, intervention, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , | 196 Comments

Vaginal examinations: a symptom of a cervical-centric birth culture

Updated: January 2023 This post is about routine vaginal examinations (VEs) during physiological birth ie. an uncomplicated birth without any medical intervention. The VE is a useful assessment in some circumstances, but it’s routine use in an attempt to determine … Continue reading

Posted in birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , | 118 Comments

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

Posted in birth, intervention | Tagged , , , , , , | 169 Comments