An updated Cochrane review has concluded that there is no evidence to show that dietary magnesium supplementation during pregnancy is beneficial. In the previous review (Makrides and Crowther 2001), magnesium supplementation appeared to be associated with a lower frequency of…
Some of the best research papers are those that explore the topics so obvious or everyday that they are sometimes overlooked, or that are so difficult to discuss that researchers tend to veer away towards safer territory. The article that…
One of the most interesting papers that I have read this month is Emily Burns’ ‘More Than Clinical Waste? Placenta Rituals Among Australian Home-Birthing Women‘, which was published in the Journal of Perinatal Education. The articles from this journal aren’t…
If you have any contact with women who are giving birth and/or breastfeeding, then I would urge you to consider reading a study published recently in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (which means it’s free, and here’s the link) in which…
It doesn’t matter how many insults are thrown at those who choose and support homebirth; research study after research study continues to show that this is a safe and reasonable option. This week, the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health…
I have the very greatest respect for my esteemed colleagues who have authored the newest birth-related Cochrane review which shows that skin-to-skin care (the technical term for cuddling) can help reduce procedural pain in neonates (Johnston et al 2014). It’s…
During the last week, two important papers from the Birthplace team have been published. The impact of maternal obesity on intrapartum outcomes in otherwise low risk women: secondary analysis of the Birthplace national prospective cohort study, which has been available…
Just in case you missed some of these as we slowed down for the holidays, I am offering a quick trip through five papers from towards the end of 2013 whose contents, for one reason or another, might be worthy…
A study published in Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey this week which analysed birth and educational records has shown that children born to mothers who were induced, augmented or both had increased odds of having autism (Gregory et al 2014). As…
The Cochrane review on VBAC was updated a couple of days ago, although there was no change to the conclusions (below). The reviewers conclude that, while both planned cesarean section and planned VBAC for women with a prior caesarean birth…