Tag Archives: oxytocin

Understanding and Assessing Labour Progress

Posted on February 3, 2017 by MidwifeThinking

Updated: October 2019 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 , , , , | 15 Comments

Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes: impatience and risk

Posted on January 11, 2017 by MidwifeThinking

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , | 229 Comments

Post-Dates Induction of Labour: balancing risks

Posted on July 13, 2016 by MidwifeThinking

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

Induction: a step by step guide

Posted on March 18, 2015 by MidwifeThinking

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 , , , , , , | 168 Comments

An actively managed placental birth might be the best option for most women

Posted on March 11, 2015 by MidwifeThinking

The birth of the placenta is my least favourite part of the birth process. I know I have ‘issues’ and I’m working on them. Hopefully writing this blog post will be therapeutic as well as informative. I am going to … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention | Tagged , , , , | 293 Comments

The Assessment of Progress

Posted on September 14, 2011 by MidwifeThinking

Links updated: August 2019 This article was written for AIMS Journal (2011, vol. 23, no. 2) and expands on my previous post about my New Years resolution – which by the way I have kept. AIMS have kindly allowed me … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention, midwifery practice, publications | Tagged , , , , , , , | 95 Comments

The Effective Labour Contraction

Posted on August 18, 2010 by MidwifeThinking

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 contractions?’ or ‘is … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, midwifery practice | Tagged , , , , , , | 103 Comments