Tag Archives: oxytocin

Understanding and assessing labour progress

Posted on February 3, 2017 by

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 me to write … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, midwifery practice, uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes: impatience and risk

Posted on January 11, 2017 by

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 by using prostaglandins … Continue reading →

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

Induction of Labour: balancing risks

Posted on July 13, 2016 by

In Australia 26% of labours are induced. The most common reason for induction is a ‘prolonged pregnancy’. That’s an awful lot of babies outstaying their welcome and requiring eviction. I am not going to get stuck into the concept of a … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, birth, intervention | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 252 Comments

Induction: a step by step guide

Posted on March 18, 2015 by

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 done to them … Continue reading →

Posted in birth, intervention | Tagged , , , , , , | 165 Comments

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

Posted on March 11, 2015 by

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 , , , , | 273 Comments

The Assessment of Progress

Posted on September 14, 2011 by

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 to reproduce the article … Continue reading →

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

The Effective Labour Contraction

Posted on August 18, 2010 by

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 , , , , , , | 100 Comments