by Debby | Jul 21, 2010 | Research Updates
Those of us who have been teaching for a REALLY long time remember the research of Dr. Roberto Caldeyro Barcia in the early 1980s on the dangers to the baby of directed pushing. Since that time, many childbirth educators have been teaching their students about the... by Debby | Jul 6, 2010 | Research Updates
Last week, news stories from Great Britain reported that a target to reduce the number of cesarean surgeries in the United Kingdom has been quietly dropped based on “new” recommendations from the World Health Organization. My first response was, “Oh no!” In the US,... by Debby | Jun 29, 2010 | Research Updates
The July 2010 edition of Obstetrics and Gynecology has still another study (PubMed ID # 20567165) confirming that induction doubles the risk for cesarean surgery. I have been teaching long enough to remember when elective induction was an issue only in December – both... by Debby | Jun 7, 2010 | Research Updates
This is a topic that doesn’t go away. Over the years we have heard conflicting recommendations on the risks of caffeine during pregnancy. It increases the risk of miscarriage. It doesn’t. It increases the risk of preterm labor and fetal growth restriction.... by Debby | Sep 14, 2009 | Research Updates
The FDA issued a “Dear Healthcare Provider Letter” recently to warn healthcare professionals and facilities about inaccurate readings in certain models of fetal monitors. The manufacturer, Philips, warned that the inaccurate readings may lead to unnecessary... by Debby | Sep 2, 2009 | Research Updates
Is birth a normal physiological process that goes well most of the time if left undisturbed, or is it a risky medical challenge that can only be termed “normal” in hindsight? Attitude and beliefs about birth are central to the controversies about “management” of birth...