blog

Is Routine Induction at 41 Weeks Superior to Expectant Management?
For some time, it has been taken as established fact that routine induction at 41 weeks reduces perinatal mortality while not increasing—and probably decreasing—cesarean rates. Three years ago, I did a guest post for Lamaze examining whether the research on those points was as indisputable as it...

Do I need a doula at a birth center birth?
You ask: I have a birth center birth planned this time around, and I just love my midwife and her assistant! Do you think I still need to hire a doula if I am using a midwife this time? I answer: It depends. Labor doulas provide one-on-one continuous physical support to you and emotional and...

Birth Worker podcast: The Fallacy of “Unbiased Maternity Care”
Kyleigh Banks on an episode of the Birth Worker podcast entitled: The Fallacy of "Unbiased Maternity Care": An Interview with Author Henci Goer.

Should You Plan a VBAC or a Repeat Cesarean?
A study made a stir in the medical obstetric news recently with the alarming finding that planned vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) was associated with a greater than two-fold increased risk of having surgery for pelvic floor dysfunction compared with elective repeat cesarean (ERC).7 One medical...

Is stripping membranes a good natural way to start labor?
You ask: This is my third baby and I'm so uncomfortable. It's hard to get around and take care of my other kids, and I'm just exhausted at the end of the day. My midwife said we can strip my membranes once it's closer to my due date as a natural way to get labor going. Is this a good way to start...