Sydney Doula

05/09/2022

I'm not anti-induction.

And neither are most of the people who will share this post with you.

In fact, there are some really good reasons to induce labour.

I wrote about some of those in a blog post a few months ago. I explained what I see as good reasons for induction. And I also listed the reasons for induction that I would consider to be questionable.

Because, sometimes, induction is offered or recommended for less-than-good reasons.

Convenience, fear or a lack of trust in the female body. In fact, those of us who work in birth-related areas see many unnecessary inductions. We also see the negative consequences that can sometimes result.

That's why we discuss it and want everyone to make the decision that's right for them.

Once they have ALL the facts.

You can read my blog posts about good reasons to induce labour at https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/are-there-good-reasons-to-induce-labour/

It offers links to many others as well as the books that I have written on this topic.

And yes, please feel free to share/repost our pic with our text, credit and link intact. Please don't put Sara's material into your own branding.

27/08/2022

24/10/2020

A study that has the potential to change our understanding of risk of VBAC was published earlier this year, just as many countries were entering lockdown. As a result this study may have gone "under the radar" despite its importance.

The OptiBIRTH trial was conducted in three EU countries and in a sample of just under 2000 women separated in control and intervention groups (e.g. birthing at hospitals participating in a VBAC intervention-study and hospitals not participating), only two uterine ruptures occurred, one in each group (meaning there was no difference between the two groups), with an incidence rate of 1:1000.

This is a small study that suggests that uterine rupture during VBAC may be rarer than originally thought, and confirms the argument that not offering women information about VBAC breaches her human right to bodily autonomy.

Babies in both groups were equally healthy (non-significant differences in adverse outcomes between groups). It will be interesting to see the effects of this trial on further VBAC research (e.g. larger studies) and practice over time.
https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-020-2829-y

Photo by Daryl Wilkerson Jr from Pexels

05/03/2020

Want the lowdown on the latest update of the Cochrane review on membrane sweeping for induction of labour? That’s the topic of my blog post today...

https://www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/membrane-sweeping-for-induction-of-labour/

14/09/2019

17/04/2019

Thought for the day...

27/03/2019

This blog asks a really important question about putting organisations before people: something which inevitably follows from centralising services.

11/03/2019

For many women, a safe, healthy labor lasts longer than the times cited as normal, according to guidelines from the nation's obstetricians. Giving women more time ups the odds of a vaginal delivery.

31/01/2019

Giving birth is not a party. It sounds stupid to even say it, but it seems like people have forgotten what birth is really about.

26/01/2019

B̲R̲E̲A̲S̲T̲F̲E̲E̲D̲I̲N̲G̲ ̲F̲A̲C̲T̲ 👈
"Your body/breasts can detect if your baby is ill and adapt to provide your baby with the antibodies they need to get better!"

There is research that suggests that when your baby nurses at the breast, their saliva may actually be transferred backwards into the ni**le. This allows your body to begin the process of creating breast milk that is specifically attacking the virus or bacteria that is making your baby ill!

This is one of the reasons why breastfed babies tend to have fewer infections, and when they do get sick, they recover more quickly.

Your milk is WAY MORE than just food for your baby. Your milk is actually the perfect MEDICINE. Not only is it made specifically for your baby, but also for exactly what is making them sick!

These changes that occur in breast milk to accommodate your babies needs, can sometimes be seen when the milk is pumped. It may appear as a different color than usual, although this is NOT always visible. You do not need to worry if you cannot detect the change, just trust that your body knows exactly what to do to take care of your little one.

This is something important for exclusively pumping moms to keep in mind. While your breast milk will respond to the detection of a virus or foreign bacteria in your environment, you may not be receiving the “communication” of the baby’s saliva drawing up into the ni**le as with nursing.

My best advice for all breastfeeding moms, nursing at the breast or exclusively pumping is to find ways to be as close to your baby as possible.

Even being drooled on (among other things) will help this transfer to take place and kick start your body to begin the process of creating the special “medicine” that your baby needs and can only get from you!

To learn more, join my Private Facebook Group My Baby Experts Community ❤❤❤

Photo courtesy of Melissa Jean Photography (Australia) 📸