When Doctor Doesn’t Know Best

I just received the most delightful email from a Birth Sense reader.  She had written to me some time ago asking for information about trying a vaginal birth after cesarean ...

The waiting is the hardest part: Evidence for patience in labor

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Pregnant women receive a wide range of information and advice from many sources.  Have you ever watched one of those birth reality shows?  You know, the ones where the laboring woman smiles from ...

A surprising downside to epidurals

Epidural anesthesia remains the most popular form of pain relief in labor. Nurses, physicians, and many midwives like epidurals because the mother is comfortable and quiet, resulting in less work ...

Do the “decision makers” listen?

My last post generated some angst among nurses who felt it was targeting them as the problem when birth complications occur and physicians are unaware or unresponsive.  Having been a ...

The #1 Reason To Choose A Midwife

The June issue of OBG management, a newsletter for obstetricians and gynecologists, features an article which examines the reasons for childbirth malpractice lawsuits.  “Most OB malpractice claims involve cascading events, not isolated errors”, ...