A discussion of the shoulder shrug manoeuvre for resolving shoulder dystocia during birth.
Another way of helping babies with shoulder dystocia?
Prophylactic antibiotics after instrumental birth?
A large randomised controlled trial looking at the effect of antibiotics to prevent infection after operative vaginal birth shows that this reduces the chance of infection from one in five to one in ten.
Our Birthing the Placenta online course starts tomorrow!
“EFM is a waste of extremely scarce resources…”
“EFM is a waste of extremely scarce resources while simultaneously adding another layer of useless staff training complexity as well as significant morbidity and mortality to a desperately critical situation.”
Recurrent episodes of reduced fetal movement and pregnancy risk
Research from the UK shows that, “Reduced fetal movements, and recurrent episodes, are common, and lead to considerable resource usage and obstetric intervention. We found no evidence to suggest that recurrent episodes increase pregnancy risk.”
Nutrition and the wisdom of craving
Sara Wickham riffs about nutritional advice, pregnancy cravings and whether there is a case for optimism…
What I knew about placental birth that my obstetrician friend didn’t…
We are all biased by what we see…
Women’s experiences of birthing their placenta
Sara Wickham looks at research considering women’s experiences of birthing their placenta.
Are birth seats beneficial?
Sara Wickham looks at research which considered the relationship between birth seats and tears in healthy women.
New online course dates, including the only 2019 run of Birthing the Placenta
Sara Wickham’s next online course dates, including the only 2019 run of Birthing the Placenta
Sharing resources with families…
Group B Strep Explained – now updated and available!
A break for crafting and self-care…
Comparisons and smashing limits…
The ARRIVE Trial: another perspective
A few reasons to be cautious about the idea of routinely scanning for breech presentation near term
Sara Wickham offers a few reasons for caution about the latest research suggesting that late pregnancy scans would be advantageous.
Three questions to ask before using a guideline
“We need a better understanding of how to use guidelines — when they’re appropriate and when they’re not.”
Obstetric cholestasis – who is really at risk?
“Birth is the beginning of everything else.”
Does oxytocin use affect the severity of OASI symptoms?
Sara Wickham discusses research showing that modifiable factors such as use of forceps and oxytocin may affect the severity of symptoms after obstetric anal sphincter injury.
New UK VBAC guidelines welcomed
Sara Wickham discusses the changes to the NICE guidance around vaginal birth after previous caesarean.
AFFIRM, ARRIVE and a whole buffet more!
We’re delighted to announce that, by popular demand, we have created a brand new Gathering in the Knowledge online course for 2019, and registration for the May 3-10 run is now open!
The language of information: obscuring choice
Sara Wickham discusses how language can be used as a tool to exercise power, often in subtle ways that aren’t easily spotted unless you’re looking.
“We have reached the limits of the domination of Nature…”
The trusty toilet
Sara Wickham discusses midwives’ experience of using toilets as a way to facilitate normal birth!
You were born to do this
Potential harms of GBS screening “outweigh benefits”
A review published in the BMJ shows that universal antenatal screening for group B streptococcus may cause more harm than good.
When I am an old midwife…
Our Post-Term Pregnancy online course starts tomorrow!
Induction rates are rising everywhere, and midwives, birth workers and others are concerned. So I’m delighted that, tomorrow, I will be welcoming a new group of participants from around the world to our first online course of 2019, Post-term pregnancy:…
Induction of labour and larger women: what are the consequences?
Sara Wickham looks at research which has analysed the consequences of induction of labour for larger women.
Gathering in the Knowledge: back for 2019!
We’re delighted to announce that, by popular demand, we have created a brand new Gathering in the Knowledge online course for 2019, and registration for the March 22-29 run is now open!
Update to the Cochrane review on approaches to the birth of the placenta
An updated version of the Cochrane review on Active versus expectant management for women in the third stage of labour has just been published, although the main conclusions have not changed.
Eight things I’d like to share with midwifery students who care…
Research: the hidden stories
Places of trust and “a velvet ear”
Body wisdom: detecting birth by smell (part 2)
Sara Wickham discusses the experience of midwives who can smell when birth is imminent (part 2).
Body wisdom: detecting birth by smell (part 1)
Risk: the game of life
More evidence on why women are dissatisfied after induction of labour
Sara Wickham writes about research looking at why women are dissatisfied with induction of labour.
The value of leaving the umbilical cord intact
A summary of the advantages of leaving the umbilical cord intact for longer after birth.
The myth of the aging placenta
How do women feel about induction of labour for post-term pregnancy?
Sara Wickham discusses a review of women’s experiences of induction for post-term pregnancy.
“No room for complacency…”
“No amount of resilience training, and telling us to be kind and compassionate, will address the serious and undermining deep-rooted challenges in our underfunded and under-resourced NHS.”
Induction and synchronised swimming: Mary Cronk’s words of wisdom
On December 21st 2018, we lost one of midwifery’s heroes, Mary Cronk. A staunch and strong advocate for women, Mary was a passionate midwife, an inspiring teacher and a famously and delightfully stroppy woman. She was a true radical who…
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays! This is my last blog post of 2018 … as always, we are going to turn off our computers and turn on the festive away message over the holidays. This year, we’ve had loads fun hanging out with…
Five tips for seasonal self-care
My eight favourite blog posts of 2018
The language of the complicated
Sara Wickham discusses how our languages focuses more on complication and risk than normality.
In celebration of plateaus
Why some research results are more likely to be published than others
A Cochrane review has confirmed that some research results are more likely to get published than others, which is one reason why evidence may not be as reliable as some people think.
Vitamin K: the stories behind the evidence
A quote from Sara Wickham about the ‘stories behind the evidence’ relating to vitamin K.
Word-thought for the day: replacing risk with chance
Midwifery care is shown to lead to better outcomes (again)
Research shows that midwifery care in pregnancy reduces the chance of small and low birthweight babies as well as of preterm birth.
Bring back the bed bath?
Positive benefits of physiological birth
Sara Wickham highlights a research study showing the transformative benefits of physiological birth.
Facebook, we have a problem…
Your birth: stories from midwifery-led areas
Sara Wickham reviews a new book in which women share their stories of giving birth in midwife-led areas in Wales.
Induction of labour: the gap between theory and reality
Sara Wickham looks at research showing the gap between what women need and want and the reality of what they experience when undergoing induction of labour.
