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.
Risk: the game of life
The myth of the ageing placenta
Sara Wickham recommends a resource discussing the myth of the aging placenta and adds her own thoughts to the discussion.
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.
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!
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 in a name?
Sara Wickham ponders the names that midwives have around the world, along with their meanings.
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.
Evidence of the importance of listening to women
Research has provided further support for the idea that it is vital to listen to women and to pay attention to other ways of knowing such as intuition
The downside of trying to “manage” birth…
What is the downside of trying to manage birth? Sara Wickham looks at how our own actions are often working against women’s and babies’ physiology.
The wisdom of storks
Sara Wickham looks at what storks can teach us about the need for science AND stories when it comes to birth wisdom.
Number Crunching
Sara Wickham discusses number crunching, statistics and the way that our cultural obsession with these things impacts health and maternity care.
Castor oil for labour induction
A study has looked at birthing outcomes of 323 women who used castor oil for labour induction, with interesting results, says Sara Wickham.
Updated UK GBS guideline
Sara Wickham looks at the updated UK GBS guideline and what it means for women and their decision making during pregnancy and birth.
What is person-centred care?
Sara Wickham responds to a question about person-centred care and offers a definition from the British Medical Journal for this.
Deconstructing prophylaxis
Is prevention better than cure? Sara Wickham looks at the idea of prophylaxis; doing things to try to prevent disease and danger.
The evidence for rebozos
Sara Wickham begins her exploration of the use of the rebozo; a Mexican scarf sometimes used in labour and birth. What’s the evidence?
Ten tips for accessing academic papers online
Sara Wickham looks at the problem of how to access research, especially if you’re not a current student. Offers tips for accessing academic papers.
The language of birth: crossing the Ts and promoting positivity
Sara Wickham looks at more examples of the language of birth. More on why ‘T’ for term is problematic, and the promotion of positivity.
A Fundamental Contradiction: the business model does not fit midwifery values
Mavis Kirkham’s article: A Fundamental Contradiction: the business model does not fit midwifery values
Questioning induction of labour in older women
Dr Sara Wickham asks whether the evidence supports recommending early induction for older women.
Risk and birth
Sara Wickham offers resources to illuminate and further thinking about risk and birth and how the notion of risk is discussed in pregnancy and birth.
To feel, or not to feel?
Sara Wickham discusses the practice of feeling for the nuchal cord at birth. How do women feel about this? Should this ever be routine?
Midwives matter more than monitors
Midwives matter more than monitors. Sara Wickham discusses research on fetal monitoring which shows that midwives make more of a difference.
The risks of estimating an unborn baby’s weight
What are risks of estimating an unborn baby’s weight? Any why on earth would this even carry risks? Sara Wickham explains.
Another way that induction might be increasing the caesarean section rate?
When we consider whether and how much induction is raising the caesarean rate, are we counting the women who request this due to fear of induction?
Assessing cervical dilatation without VEs: Watching the purple line
Not evidence that early induction of labour makes a difference in older women (35/39 trial)
The 35/39 trial: not evidence that early induction of labour makes a difference in older women. Sara Wickham analyses the findings.
Pondering placentophagy
Sara Wickham looks at the issues relating to eating placenta, or placentophagy, and a large research review of this area.
Unassisted birth: listening and learning from the minority
Sara Wickham discusses freebirth and women who, for one reason or another, decide to give birth without professional assistance.
On acceptance without need for cause
I had a great reminder about acceptance when I called my dad one morning, says Sara Wickham. And how we don’t always need to find the cause.
The most important thing women can do for themselves in the quest for a normal birth?
One of the most important things that a woman can do in order to help give herself the best chance of a straightforward normal birth with as little intervention as possible.
Cervical dilation is (now mathematically shown to be) unpredictable
Research has confirmed that, in spontaneous, naturally progressing labour, the rate of cervical dilatation is largely unpredictable.
Who safeguards mothers?
Who safeguards mothers, asks Sara Wickham. Especially those who want to decline treatment for things like GBS and are treated badly as a consequence.
A duo of thought-provoking articles on risk
Sara Wickham shares and discusses a couple of research articles relating to the notion of risk.
Does induction really reduce the likelihood of caesarean section?
Does induction reduce caesarean? Sara Wickham looks at two systematic reviews which claims it does, but finds that all is not as it might seem.
Is yoga safe in the first trimester of pregnancy?
Do you have any evidence around when women can start yoga in pregnancy if they haven’t practiced before pregnancy? Sara Wickham answers.
Putting paradigms into perspective…
What was the Canadian Term Breech trial?
Sara Wickham gives an overview of the Canadian Term Breech Trial and offers a number of resources for those seeking to learn more about this flawed trial.
Questioning screening: food for thought
Are you aware that the vast majority of the things that midwives do during antenatal and postnatal checks and when looking after women in labour are actually screening tests? No matter whether we are checking a woman’s blood pressure, urine…
A recipe for knitting a hat for a baby…
Sara Wickham offers a recipe for a knitted baby hat. Includes reminders to breathe, dream and drink tea as well as the actual knitting steps.
What is cervical recoil?
What is cervical recoil, and why is it important? Sara Wickham explains why it can be normal for cervical dilation to go backwards in labour.
15 ways to knit a uterus
Sara Wickham offers links to a range of knitted uterus patterns and related crafts, all freely available online for those seeking some craft ideas!
Journeying With Women: holistic midwives and relationship
The full text of Dr Sara Wickham’s 2010 article, Journeying With Women: holistic midwives and relationship. Relates to so-called “post-term” pregnancy.
Stretching the fabric: from technocratic normal limits to holistic midwives’ negotiations of normalcy
The full text of Dr Sara Wickham’s 2011 article: Stretching the fabric: from technocratic normal limits to holistic midwives’ negotiations of normalcy.
Thank you, Essentially MIDIRS
I was the founding Editor of Essentially MIDIRS and a past Editor of MIDIRS Midwifery Digest. However, along with my colleagues Nadine Edwards and Becky Reed (editors of the Digest at that time), the entire Essentially MIDIRS Advisory Panel (Ina…
Post-term Pregnancy: The Problem of the Boundaries
The full text of Dr Sara Wickham’s 2009 research article: “Post-Term Pregnancy: the problem of the boundaries.”
Anti-D: exploring midwifery knowledge
Dr Sara Wickham’s 2001 article, “anti-D: exploring midwifery knowledge”, which looked at the views and knowledge of holistic midwives.
Vitamin K: a flaw in the blueprint?
Dr Sara Wickham’s 2001 on vitamin K, in which she analysed the philosophical underpinnings of the medical-model approach to this.
The War on Group B Strep
Welcome!
Hello, My name is Sara Wickham. I’m an author and researcher who writes evidence-based books about pregnancy, childbirth and wider issues. Find out more about me here. My website-creating career began in 1999. As a (then) academic, I was continually…