What is the Birthplace cohort study? This 2 year English study (April 2008-2010) looked at 64538 low-risk births involving 90% of all midwifery units in England to consider the safety, cost-effectiveness and availability of current maternity services in the 4 available locations: hospital obstetric units (OU), alongside midwifery units (AMU), freestanding midwifery units (FMU) (collectively ...
“Fathers-To-Be Handbook: A Road Map for the Transition to Fatherhood” by Patrick Houser
Guest blogger Sarah Buchanan reviews the Fathers-to-be handbook. Towards the end of this superb book, Patrick, touches upon a thought provoking question. In earlier times the role of the father as protector was to guard the labouring mother. Imagine him standing at the opening of their cave, club in hand on the lookout for ...
“Birth Reborn” by Michel Odent
Guest blogger Sarah Buchanan reviews 'Birth Reborn' by Michel Odent. Michel Odent wrote 'Birth Reborn' in 1984 and subsequent editions were printed in 1994 and 2005. During the 1970s and early 80s, Odent led the maternity unit at Pithiviers Hospital in France and this book is an account of his time there. This is ...
“The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth” by Henci Goer
Informed Choice If there is a conversation about 'rights' to be had around birth then the 'right' for mothers to make informed choices must be number one. Henci Goer describes herself as a Birth Activist, an American who has written extensive articles as well as books including the very popular and much quoted "Obstetric Myths Versus ...
Diary of a free range pregnancy: Birth
My Uber parenting day Got up, had irregular twinges through morning, had friend for brunch, put toddler down for nap, told friends coming to tea to come, continued twinging lying on the sofa, farmed toddler out to neighbours for tea, told friends coming for tea not to come, birthed baby, champagne and sausages for supper, in ...
“Stand and Deliver” by Emma Mahony
The rise in books for mothers It is gratifying to see a huge rise in the past 10 years of books about pregnancy, birth and parenting written by mothers for mothers. Particularly books about birth. This is a field every woman can become her own expert in because for every woman it is a unique and personal ...
Diary of a free range pregnancy: preparing older children
Into the home straight, a couple of weeks to go (give or take, still no nearer to believing in EDD) and feeling great. Some iron pills from the holistic health centre Rapha, not the NHS so no side-effects from iron overdose (potentially: constipation, heartburn, nausea, vomiting) just the desired effect of eliminating fatigue. Nature has an ...
Bounty Packs vs Mama Packs
When you have a baby in an NHS hospital you are given a Bounty Pack. There are now 5 in the series, some given out by the NHS and others available to collect from certain high street stockists. Billed as a useful bag of kit for new mums, babies and their families, they ...
“Raising Boys” by Steve Biddulph
Recognising the gender difference There is debate amongst some scientists and anthropologists about whether there is a difference between boys and girls brains or whether absolutely everything is the influence of external, sociological forces. Every parent I have spoken to reckons there is a fundamental difference in the way boys and girls are wired. Sometimes just ...
One World Birth
An incredible new project is coming soon called 'one world birth' that proposes to give a new platform and voice to the international scene campaigning to improve birth for mothers and babies around the world. Watch the trailer and then sign up at the website...inspirational stuff. http://youtu.be/sCPZrK8C2ZY