A Labor of Love Midwifery

03/20/2026

"Years from now, the measure of success will not be which documents were published, but what actions were taken."

ICM Chief Midwife, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE, calls for decisive action to end preventable deaths from postpartum haemorrhage.

We now have WHO guidance on implementing midwifery models of care, the Midwife Accelerator, and practical implementation tools. The evidence is clear: when women receive care from educated, regulated midwives working within functioning health systems, lives are saved.

Read the full editorial at: https://zurl.co/m8Nav

03/19/2026

Did your birth(s) fit this definition?

Leinweber J, Fontein-Kuipers Y, Karlsdottir SI, et al. Developing a woman-centered, inclusive definition of positive childbirth experiences: A discussion paper. Birth 2023;50(2):362-83.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35790019/

03/17/2026

What is the risk of uterine rupture during a labor after two cesareans?

So often, we hear the risk is 0.9 - 1.8%. But that doesn’t tell the whole picture.

The truth is, those numbers are based on studies in which 49 - 65% of labors were induced or augmented.

As we know, induction and augmentation has been associated with increased uterine rupture rates.

So it’s quite likely that the risk of uterine rupture during a non-induced or augmented labor after two cesareans may be significantly lower.

This is why it’s so important to understand what the research says.

Sometimes vital pieces of information are lost as statistics are simplified and shared.

What have you heard about VBA2C?

We summarize the available evidence on VBA2C here: https://vbacfacts.com/vba2c

If you are a perinatal professional who wants to provide the best VBAC information and support, we offer a continuing education training on VBA2C (approved for 2.4 contact hours) so you can easily integrate the evidence into your practice as well a VBA2C handout for birthing families so you can quickly communicate the facts to your clients.

These are just two of the benefits of joining VBAC Facts® professional membership.

Register today: https://vbacfacts.com/membership

03/17/2026

What an absolute privilege. ❤️

Quote Credit: ❣️

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03/15/2026

Mama, here’s the truth I keep coming back to: I’m not raising children to ultimately obey me—I’m raising them to obey God. 🙏

My goal isn’t for them to ultimately love me…it’s for them to love the Lord with all their heart. ❤️📖

I’m not aiming for them to admire me, but to stand in awe of their Maker. 🌎✨

I don’t need them to brag about me—I want them to boast in the Lord. 🙌

I don’t need them to agree with everything I say—I want them to submit to what God’s Word says. ✅📜

Yes, I want respectful children. Yes, I want peace in our home. But deeper than that, I’m praying for hearts that fear God, trust Christ, and walk in truth—even when I’m not around. 🏡

Because if motherhood becomes about building my little kingdom, I’ll live stressed, offended, and exhausted… 😩

But when motherhood becomes about building His kingdom, my soul can breathe. ❤️

I’m not raising “miniature me’s.”
By God’s grace, I’m raising children to be more like Jesus.

And the sooner I truly believe all this, the freer—and happier—I will be as a mama.

📌 Scripture to hold onto:

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children…” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7) 📖

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) 👣

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31) 🙌

“We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) ✅
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) ✝️

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

Love, Katie

03/14/2026

Induction to prevent shoulder dystocia is not evidence‑based
Multiple high‑quality reviews show no consistent reduction in shoulder dystocia when labor is induced just because a baby is suspected to be big.

AAFP review:
“Results from studies evaluating labor induction for suspected macrosomia are inconsistent, and induction is not recommended to prevent shoulder dystocia.”

Cochrane review:
Ultrasound weight estimates are inaccurate, and early induction for suspected big babies does not reliably prevent shoulder dystocia.

Most shoulder dystocia happens with normal‑sized babies
This is the stat your graphic is built on — and it’s solid.

AAFP:
“Half of the neonates with shoulder dystocia weighed less than 4,000 g (8 lb 13 oz), and only 20% of patients had diabetes.”
Translation: Small and average‑sized babies get stuck too.

Cleveland Clinic:
Shoulder dystocia occurs in 0.6–1.4% of babies 5 lb 8 oz–8 lb 13 oz — normal weight range.
It rises to 5–9% only in babies >8 lb 13 oz.
But the majority of cases still occur in normal‑weight babies because they are far more common.

03/13/2026

03/12/2026

03/11/2026

Placing your baby directly on your bare chest for the first 60 minutes isn't just about the snuggles, it’s a biological powerhouse. Here’s what’s happening during those first precious moments:

✨Your body acts as a living thermostat, stabilizing baby’s temperature and heart rate better than any incubator.

✨Skin-to-skin helps seed your baby’s microbiome with healthy bacteria.

✨It triggers a massive oxytocin surge, which reduces stress for you both and makes breastfeeding much easier to start. 🤱

✨It lowers crying and helps baby transition from the womb to the world smoothly.

Include a "Golden Hour" request in your birth plan! Most routine checks (like weight and height) can wait 60 minutes while you and baby bond. 👶

03/09/2026

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