Sara Wickham looks at the ides of routinely offering a scan to see if a baby is breech. This raises more issues than many people realise.
A few reasons to be cautious about the idea of routinely scanning for breech presentation near term
Three questions to ask before using a guideline
When is it appropriate to use a guideline and when is it not? The questions that we should ask before deciciding whether to use the guidance or walk away.
Obstetric cholestasis – who is really at risk?
Sara Wickham looks at new research into obstetric cholestasis, which may help determine which babies are really at risk and thus reduce over-intervention.
“Birth is the beginning of everything else.”
Does oxytocin use affect the severity of OASI symptoms?
Research shows that modifiable factors such as 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, which have been welcomed by midwives.
The language of information: obscuring choice
Sara Wickham discusses how language can be used to obscure choice, or as a tool to exercise power, often in subtle ways that aren’t easily spotted.
“We have reached the limits of the domination of Nature…”
Michel Odent suggests that we have reached the limits of the domination of nature, and describes the kind of environment needed for birth.
The trusty toilet
Sara Wickham discusses midwives’ experience of using toilets as birth stools, and looks at their effectiveness at facilitating 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…
Induction of labour for larger women: what are the consequences?
Sara Wickham looks at research which has analysed the consequences of induction of labour for larger women.
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.
Research: the hidden stories
Sara Wickham considers the hidden stories behind research, and shows how what goes on behind the scenes can influence a study’s results.
Places of trust and “a velvet ear”
Wimyn need wimyn’s circles, says Sister MorningStar. Places of trust, honesty, innate community building, storytelling and the passing on of wisdom.
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
Sara Wickham considers women who decline to accept the “high-risk” label applied by risk-focused caregivers and make the decisions that are right for them.
More evidence on why women are dissatisfied after induction of labour
Sara Wickham writes about research looking at why some women dislike induction of labour. Delays and a lack of information are key issues.
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
Sara Wickham recommends a resource discussing the myth of the aging placenta and adds her own thoughts to the discussion.
How do women feel about induction of labour for post-term pregnancy?
What are women’s feelings about induction of labour for post-term pregnancy? Sara Wickham looks at research which asked this very question.
“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…”
My eight favourite blog posts of 2018
Sara Wickham revisits her favourite and most popular blog posts from 2018. Includes book announcements, induction research and shoelaces!
The language of the complicated
Sara Wickham discusses how our languages focuses more on complication and risk than normality, and considers how this might affect women.
In celebration of plateaus
In celebration of plateaus; Sara Wickham quotes from Elizabeth Davis’ wonderful article on plateaus, in which she compares how these occur in birth and sex.
Why some research results are more likely to be published than others
A Cochrane review confirms that some research results are more likely to get published than others; one reason why evidence isn’t as reliable as we’d like.
Word-thought for the day: replacing risk with chance
Midwifery care is shown to lead to better outcomes (again)
Another study has shown that receiving pregnancy care from a midwife can reduce the chance of having problems, says Sara Wickham.
Bring back the bed bath?
Sara Wickham discusses the practice of midwives offering a bed bath to a woman who has just given birth, and the value of this.
Positive benefits of physiological birth
Sara Wickham highlights a research study showing the transformative benefits of physiological birth; an ’empowering journey for women’.
Your birth: stories from midwifery-led areas
Sara Wickham reviews the book, “Your birth: stories from midwifery-led areas”, a project about women’s stories led by a midwife from Wales.
Induction of labour: the gap between theory and reality
Research into women’s experiences of induction of labour show a big gap between what women need and want and the reality of what they experience.
Oxytocin-related resources
Sara Wickham provides a guide to the oxytocin-related resources available on her website. Benefits of physiology and information about synthetic oxytocin.
Routine early induction in healthy women not supported by evidence
Research looking at the effects of early induction of labour shows this is associated with few beneficial outcomes and several adverse outcomes.
Is it any wonder? Enough of the body shaming…
Enough of the body shaming, says Sara Wickham. Is it any wonder that many women don’t know how to trust their bodies or decisions?
Placental birth resources
Sara Wickham’s website contains lots of placenta-related resources. Here’s a current list of her blog posts, articles and books on this topic.
Further thoughts on the third stage
Sara Wickham’s article in which she shares experience relating to the birth of the placenta, and suggests that things may not be what they seem!
Seven useful words for the birth room…
Sara Wickham offers some useful words for the birth room; a handy phrase which helps prevent women from being coerced…
Work, health and emotional lives of midwives in the United Kingdom: The UK WHELM study
A senior midwife has shared her thoughts on a study looking into the work, health and emotional lives of midwives in the UK which does not appear to have been publicised by the organisation that commissioned it, the Royal College of Midwives.
Birthing Your Placenta: now available!
Announcing the publication of the fourth edition of our Birthing Your Placenta book, written for women, families and professionals.
Home births – where are we heading?
Sara Wickham looks at a recent editorial which explores some of the issues relating to home birth and how it is becoming more popular.
We need a better way of defining postpartum haemorrhage…
Sara Wickham looks at research which considers the way in which we define and measure postpartum haemorrhage, suggesting we need to re-think this area.
What’s true, pussycat?
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.
What’s in a name?
Sara Wickham ponders the names that midwives have around the world, along with their meanings.
Review shows that “evidence is lacking” to induce labour before 42 weeks of pregnancy
A review of trials comparing induction of labour with expectant management says evidence is lacking for the recommendation to induce labour at 41 weeks.
Labour progress resources
Labour progress resources available on Sara Wickham’s website. Everything from research challenging norms to the purple line!
Bearing witness: disrespectful maternity care
Sara Wickham writes about an important study which further illustrates disrespectful maternity care and abuse that some women experience during childbirth.
Untangling the Maternity Crisis
Sara Wickham reviews Untangling the Maternity Crisis: an important new book detailing the problems faced within maternity care.
On individualisation…
Sara Wickham on individualised care. Why it’s important to find out if what you’re being offered is routine, or tailored to your personal situation.
Objectivity, religion and belief…
No-one is unbiased. Context is important. Knowing the context of information can help us better make the decisions that are right for us.
The Rhombus of Michaelis
Sara Wickham and Jean Sutton describe the Rhombus of Michaelis, an area of bone which plays an important role in labour and birth.
More evidence on how to keep birth normal
Evidence-based approaches to determining the onset of active labour, assessing progress of labour and determining dystocia may safely decrease intervention.
Large Carbetocin trial published
Sara Wickham discusses the results of a large Carbetocin trial which considers the use of this drug during the birth of the placenta.
Why birth-related decision making is trickier than ever…
A number of features of our modern culture have made making birth-related decisions trickier than ever, says Sara Wickham.
The risk-managed birth ball
The risk-managed birth ball; Sara Wickham’s article in which she considers just how far things are going towards a culture of risk management…
Standardisation of Care: a contradiction in terms
A guest post by Professor Emerita Mavis Kirkham: Standardisation of Care: a contradiction in terms. And why individualisation matters.
Further confirmation of home birth safety
A systematic review and meta-analysis has further confirmed the safety of home birth for healthy women, even if they are having their first baby.
What’s Right For Me? Now updated and available!
Sara Wickham announces the publication of her updated book, What’s Right For Me? Making decisions in pregnancy and childbirth.