Are there good reasons to induce labour? That’s a question often posted when I talk or write about labour induction. It’s an understandable question. I have spent more than twenty years writing about how induction isn’t always beneficial. I’ve often…
Been offered induction for big baby? This is increasingly common. Pregnant women are told that a scan shows that their baby is bigger than average, and induction is recommended. If they decline, they may be offered a planned caesarean instead.…
The Big Baby Trial is a large clinical trial that was carried out in the UK. Its findings were published in The Lancet in May 2025. A related study on cost effectiveness was published in the British Journal of Obstetrics…
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a common bacterium that can live in the vagina and rectum, and about 20% of adults (or one in five) have this bacteria. That includes pregnant women. While the GBS bacteria doesn’t usually cause problems,…
Many women are offered a ‘stretch and sweep’ in late pregnancy. But what is this, why and how is it done, does it work and can you say no?
Sara Wickham riffs about cats at birth, cats in maternity care and just how much we can learn by being open to other ways of knowing.
Weight stigma is a pervasive and problematic issue in our modern culture. It can negatively affect the experience and wellbeing of anyone who has a higher BMI. But its impact in health and maternity care can be particularly harmful. For…
Heavy-handed persuasion tactics and the aggressive language of some medically-focused papers are inappropriate and harmful, says Sara Wickham
Need help making birth decisions? One of Sara’s most loved books is called What’s Right For Me? Making decision in pregnancy and childbirth. It has been helping parents to become familiar with their options and learn about tools to help…
How do you use a pinard? Sara Wickham and other experienced midwives offer tips, tricks and suggestions for those wanting to develop this skill.