Fear of childbirth is associated with shorter duration of breastfeeding: The duration of breastfeeding is shorter than average among mothers with a fear of childbirth – regardless of the mode of delivery, a new study from Finland shows. According to the researchers, the fear of childbirth can also be an indication of a greater need […]
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Receiving an epidural during labour is associated with a significant reduction in severe maternal morbidity (serious health problems during childbirth or the six weeks following birth), according to new research that looked at data from more than half a million mothers in the UK. The findings suggest that improving access to epidurals during labour, alongside […]
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Every two minutes, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth, according to the latest estimates released in a report by United Nations (UN) agencies today. This report, Trends in maternal mortality, reveals alarming setbacks for women’s health over recent years, as maternal deaths either increased or stagnated in nearly all regions of the world. “While […]
Researchers from the University of Aberdeen have been awarded almost £1 million to fund research looking into how pregnant women can be supported to plan their birth. The National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) awarded more than £973,000 to the collaborative team made up of scientists, clinicians, members of the public and those […]
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Water injections could be used to relieve labour pains. The effectiveness of using sterile water injections for labour contraction pain will be tested by an international collaboration of researchers, thanks to federal funding. The Commonwealth Government’s Medical Research Future Fund has granted more than $300 thousand to the two-year project, run by The University of […]
New report sounds the alarm on global shortage of 900,000 midwives: Fully investing in midwives by 2035 would avert roughly two-thirds of maternal, newborn deaths and stillbirths, saving 4.3 million lives per year. UNITED NATIONS, New York, 5 May 2021 — Millions of lives of women and newborns are lost, and millions more experience ill health or […]
Midwifery has a very important role to play in helping to solve some really big problems that affect women and their babies around the world. It is estimated that nearly 300,000 women die every year during pregnancy, childbirth or soon after. About 2.6 million women suffer stillbirths, and almost 3 million infants die in the […]
Mums are choosing to have their babies later in life. As a GP, I see a growing number of women in their 30s and 40s who are expecting their first child, or hoping to have a child of their own. Many are professional women who have put their careers first but are now ready to start a family. Of […]
TJ: In a recent article titled ‘’The future of neonatal BCG’’ (1), you suggest that, from bacteriological and immunological perspectives, there is no substitute for home birth. Can you clarify this point of view? MO: We must first realize that, from such scientific perspectives, the period surrounding birth has been radically altered during the past […]
The BBC2 TV series, Five Star Babies: Inside the Portland Hospital, professed to be an ‘exclusive glimpse inside the UK’s only maternity hospital’ and presented an image of childbirth which was glamorous and aspirational. Here, footballer’s wife turned fashion guru Victoria Beckham had her babies, with the customary C-section to ensure that the process of […]