Which first-time mums are more at risk of caesarean? There is growing concern about the number of unnecessary caesareans, and the rate of these is especially high in first-time mums. That concern has led researchers looking specifically at this question,…
Immediate skin-to-skin contact between new born babies and their mums brings many health benefits. Dr Sara Wickham explains the evidence, and a new Cochrane review whose authors suggest that withholding this may be unethical.
Is there any evidence of benefit for induction for gestational diabetes? That’s a question I hear a lot. Women who have been told that they have gestational diabetes are often also offered early induction of labour. But is there any…
Another study has shown that receiving pregnancy care from a midwife can reduce the chance of having problems, says Sara Wickham.
Sara Wickham looks at birth trauma research which highlights the experiences of women and shows how important it is that we look at this area more closely.
Sara Wickham shares studies and discussions relating to freebirth or unassisted birth and the women who opt for this.
Been offered induction for big baby? This is increasingly common. Pregnant women are told that a scan shows that their baby is bigger than average, and induction is recommended. If they decline, they may be offered a planned caesarean instead.…
What’s the chance of having another PPH, if you’ve had one before? For some women, that’s an important question. Women who have had a previous postpartum haemorrhage (PPH, or excessive bleeding after birth) are often advised to have their future babies…
The Big Baby Trial is a large clinical trial that was carried out in the UK. Its findings were published in The Lancet in May 2025. A related study on cost effectiveness was published in the British Journal of Obstetrics…
What do women want when it comes to the induction decision? Dr Sara Wickham investigates research which shows that it’s more complex than we might think.