In the last three decades, women in New Zealand, as in the rest of the Western world, have experienced escalating levels of intervention during childbirth and a declining ‘normal’ birth rate – the latter being recorded as 65.0% of all … Continue reading
Tag Archives: waterbirth
Birthspirit’s Waterbirth Workshop provides the opportunity to establish and/or enhance evidence-informed practice around the safe and effective use of water during labour and/or birth). It is designed for health professionals but it is anticipated that women exploring the waterbirth option … Continue reading
In this review of newborn and maternal physiology following birth, Dr Sarah J Buckley focuses on the importance of supporting the newborn’s transition by delayed, or no, umbilical cord clamping. The third stage of labour is a powerful and mysterious … Continue reading
This post written by Heather Wallace was originally published in Birthspirit Midwifery Journal 2010; 5: 33-36. Last year I returned to clinical practice after an extended maternity leave of almost five years. I was concerned that I would be completely … Continue reading
This post was originally published in Birthspirit Midwifery Journal 2009; 1: 13-19. Updated and revised 3 March 2014 Using deep warm baths in labour is a common strategy that many home birth midwives have used for at least three decades … Continue reading
Originally published in Birthspirit Midwifery Journal 2009; 4: 25-30. Revised. The artwork in this post was historically available at http://cesarean-art.com. As the artist did not engage in dialogue, permission was unable to be sought to reproduce this previously freely available … Continue reading
This post was originally published in Birthspirit Midwifery Journal 2009; 3: 15-19. Updated 2 February 2017 I am often asked during breech workshops that I run if leaving a woman in a birth pool to give birth to a surprise … Continue reading