Research Reviews

This article explores research that documents women’s experiences of attempting to plan a VBAC. What is notable in the study is that women often had to ‘fight’ to give birth in this way. Gender, power dynamics and the increasing medicalisation of birth, meant that women’s desire to give birth vaginally was not always supported or respected by maternity staff.

This article unpacks the 2018 MBRRACE report which presents data on maternal deaths in the UK. Problematically, Black women were five times more likely to die in childbirth, and Asian women twice as likely, than White women. Whilst there has been some media reporting of these statistics, what is lacking in this report is an attempt to link the deaths to any particular cause or to fully interrogate these shocking figures. As a result, this article highlights that the report does have value, but it does not provide any insight into how such disproportionate numbers of deaths can be tackled.

This article discusses a study that explored women’s experiences of birth trauma. What the researchers discovered was that much of that trauma was caused by the behaviour of maternity staff. Women’s accounts of obstetric violence and abuse highlight the need for further action to improve maternity services globally.

The researchers in the study I reviewed for this article were exploring whether adding additional software to electronic fetal heart rate monitors would improve the outcomes for mothers and babies. The study led to some unsurprising results and potentially worrying pathways for future research.

The so called ‘35/39 Trial’ was an attempt by researchers to understand whether inducing first time mothers aged over 35 at 39 weeks altered the rates of caesarean section births. This article explores the study, highlighting both its insights and its limitations.

This Scandinavian study explores the perineal injuries women experienced during home births when they adopted various positions. The review explains the study and its limitations. You may be interested in comparing the results of the study to my own entitled Undisturbed Physiological Birth: Insights from Women who Freebirth in the United Kingdom.

This review explores two studies that considered the outcomes for mothers and babies during planned homebirths. The research raised many questions and I highlight the issues that as yet remain unresolved.

Counting the Kicks is a charitable campaign that encourages pregnant women and people to be aware of their baby’s movements and to report any concerns to midwives and doctors. This article explores the research behind their campaign.

A 2014 study concluded that only 8% of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Green-top guidelines are based on the highest level of medical evidence. This article explores the study and questions what this means for pregnant women, their babies and births.

How well informed are women before they make decisions about their care? Researchers in Australia conducted a large study to explore the question and this review unpacks their results.