A labour plateau is a phrase used to describe a pause or slowdown in labour. The labour plateau is a phenomenon with which I am very familiar. As a midwife, I attended mostly physiological births, where it is common to…
What is a labour plateau?
Tag: labour
Birth outcomes in plus size pregnancy
Dr Sara Wickham looks at research which challenges what we’re being told about birth outcomes and plus size pregnancy.
Induction of labour: what do women think?
Women want more information and support with decision making about induction of labour, especially when there’s no good medical reason for it
Oxytocin and birth: the latest evidence
The latest evidence on oxytocin and birth: Dr Sara Wickham looks at recent key studies on this topic.
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.
Women’s experiences of augmentation of labour
A study looking at women’s experiences of augmentation of labour has highlighted problems with informed decision making and shown that having a synthetic oxytocin infusion in labour can cause an atypically painful labour and lead to negative birth experiences. Alòs-Pereñíguez…
Labour progress resources
Labour progress resources available on Sara Wickham’s website. Everything from research challenging norms to the purple line!
What time are babies most likely to be born?
What time are babies most likely to be born? As a home birth midwife, I’m well aware that a good many babies like to be born in the deep of the night. They will often wait until everyone has gone…
Induction and synchronised swimming: Mary Cronk words of wisdom
Sara Wickham shares the wisdom of Mary Cronk, one of midwifery’s heroes. Thoughts on induction, labour and synchronised swimming…
Women’s perceptions and experiences of COVID-19
The first study looking at women’s perceptions of COVID-19 and their healthcare experiences in the UK was a qualitative thematic analysis published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. In May 2020, Karavadra et al (2020) developed a questionnaire and advertised it…