Sara Wickham unpacks the birthkit essentials carried by midwifery colleagues and shares some great tips of things you might want to have at a birth.
Twenty birth kit essentials
Home fetal dopplers “strongly discouraged”
Government and professional bodies in the UK have publicly advised against the use of fetal dopplers by parents in the home. Dr Sara Wickham explains.
Screening: what are we missing?
Does the use of modern screening technology come with downsides? Sara Wickham argues that it does, both in life and birth.
Induction of labour at or before 42 weeks of pregnancy: new evidence
Sara Wickham looks at Danish research which compared induction of labout at 42 weeks with induction of labour at 41+3 weeks, with interesting results.
Cerridwyn and the Pixies: A Holiday Fairytale
Sara Wickham tells a holiday story of research pixies who learn why some types of research are (inappropriately) valued more than others.
The Poo Taboo
Sara Wickham presents the results of a conversation amongst women who are also midwives on the topic of poo in labour.
Induction of labour and avoidable harm
Sara Wickham shares research which highlights the issue of induction of labour and avoidable harm, showing us that there’s another side to the story…
The folly of fully dilated
There are a few myths about the idea that women need to be fully dilated to give birth, and that this means the same thing for every woman.
Stepping Stones and Cervical Wisdom
What is cervical wisdom, why is it important, and why have many midwifery and medical textbooks got it so wrong? Sara Wickham explains.
Holistic therapies: proof and plausibility
Why it isn’t justifiable to ban complementary therapies from use in the NHS, and why women and clinicians are concerned about this.
The value of the knitting midwife
Sara Wickham tells the story of the Silent Knitting Workshop in Hawaii and reflects on the value of ‘the knitting midwife’.
101 dissertation tips – read the first chapter free
Free dissertation tips! The first chapter from Sara Wickham’s book, 101 tips for planning, writing and surviving your dissertation.
Tips for physiological birth of the placenta
Sara Wickham shares tips for physiological birth of the placenta which emerged from a discussion held with a circle of midwives.
The problem of product propaganda
Sara Wickham looks at the problem of product propaganda, seen where companies are using sales messages that undermine parents’ confidence in their ability.
Pondering the post-birth tea break
Sara Wickham explores the uniquely British ritual of having a cup of tea after birth, with the help of midwives and women who share their thoughts on this.
Fetal monitoring research resources
A list of fetal monitoring research resources available on www.sarawickham.com. Includes blog posts and references to relevant research.
Homebirth: Safe & Sacred
Can I have a natural placental birth after induction?
“Is it possible to have a natural placental birth after induction?” That’s a question I get asked a lot. My first reply to this question usually begins with me saying that I am not sure that any part of a…
The induction crisis continues (and what we can do about it)
Fixed point due dates and wider windows
If Doctor Who turned up in front of you right now and offered you the chance to go elsewhere in time to change, remove or amend one tenet of modern maternity care, what would you choose? Even though I understand…
Love, kisses and other ways of knowing…
Sara Wickham asks whether maternity care providers and those who attend births are focusing on the right things.
Giant Breakthrough in Screening or Great Big Stressor?
Sara Wickham’s 2004 article in which she looks at the pros and cons of offering screening for the group B strep bacteria in pregnancy.
Microbiome seeding – what’s the evidence?
Dr Sara Wickham discusses microbiome seeding, also known as vaginal seeding, and why we need more evidence on this.
Prophylactic antibiotics after instrumental birth?
A large trial on prophylactic antibiotics after instrumental birth which shows that this reduces the chance of infection from one in five to one in ten.
Nutrition and the wisdom of craving
Sara Wickham’s 2005 article in which she 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…
Evidence is important, but it isn’t enough. Sara Wickham explains why we need to learn from stories as well as science.
We are all biased by what we see…
Sara Wickham looks at how we are all biased by our experiences, and how different viewpoints depend on what we see.
Women’s experiences of birthing their placenta
Australian researchers have carried out an important study looking at women’s decisions about, and 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.
Sharing resources with families…
Sara Wickham offers links to informative blog posts which childbirth educators and others might like to share with families.
The ARRIVE Trial: another perspective
Sara Wickham shares the work of an obstetrician who has added further doubt to the value of the results of the ARRIVE Trial.
A few reasons to be cautious about the idea of routinely scanning for breech presentation near term
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.
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.
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.
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.
The trusty toilet
Sara Wickham discusses midwives’ experience of using toilets as birth stools, and looks at their effectiveness at facilitating normal birth.
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.
Body wisdom: detecting birth by smell
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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…