Pregnant women and maternity services are facing an induction epidemic. As medical guidelines include more “at risk” categories, women and our already overwhelmed and under resourced maternity systems are increasingly pressured to induce birth before labour begins spontaneously. Women are deemed to be too large and too old, while babies are estimated to be too big and too overdue. But is ‘better-out-than-in’ really a safer option than waiting to birth in your own time?\nStaggeringly, over a third of all pregnant women have their labour medically induced, and this is accompanied by a tsunami of avoidable medical interventions. Worldwide, this trend is growing at an alarming rate. This is despite both a lack of evidence demonstrating its benefits and a wealth of evidence indicating the significant short- and long-term negative impacts of induction on the health and wellbeing of mothers and their babies.\nIn this timely book, Dr Sara Wickham demystifies the evidence and highlights the significant discrepancies between guidelines and what we really know about the benefits of supporting women to birth spontaneously. With her renowned ability to make complex issues understandable, her holistic approach and more than twenty-five years’ experience as a midwife and researcher, Dr Wickham draws on a wide range of evidence, including the voices of women and practitioners, to answer vital questions such as: How accurate are due dates? Is it really that risky to wait? Does induction make a difference? And, perhaps most importantly, how can we address the induction epidemic?\nIn Your Own Time is both a masterclass in what the evidence really says about induction of labour and a fascinating insight into how birth has come to be controlled by Western medicine.\n"This is such a vitally important book. With her brilliant brain and extensive experience, Dr Sara Wickham has pulled together and clearly interpreted the complex evidence about induction of labour. This book provides clarity about why increasing numbers of women are having their labours induced, and the problems with current guideline recommendations. It also offers suggestions about what we can all do to reclaim the parameters of normal and support women to birth in their own time. Anyone who cares about women and their experiences of birth needs this book." Dr Rachel Reed, midwife and researcher.

In Your Own Time: How western medicine controls the start of labour and why this needs to stop

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Wickham, Sara

Women's Health

Birthmoon Creations

The decisions that we make about pregnancy and childbirth can shape our experiences, health and lives for years to come, as well as those of our children and families. But many of those decisions are complex, confusing and made harder by the fact that we live in a world which is filled with options and opinions that can feel overwhelming.\nWhat’s Right for Me? is an invaluable book which helps make these decisions feel less daunting. This updated edition covers everything from ideas about risk and different perspectives on birth, to how to interpret and consider information about tests, interventions and birth options. Dr Sara Wickham’s easy-to-understand explanations, real-life examples and top tips are like having a friendly expert by your side, helping you to understand your choices, your rights and ultimately why your decisions should be about what’s right for you and only you.\n“Everyone having a baby needs this book. The information in its pages is precious and vital. Sara is the ultimate information-sharer: experienced, knowledgeable and wise, at the same time as being honest, accessible and friendly. I just love the way Sara writes - everything offered in this book is immediately about YOU. Sara addresses her readers directly and guides them through all the choices that may be ‘offered’ on their (and their baby’s) own particular journey. She reminds them all along that the decisions are always theirs, and there is no beating about the bush around what pregnant women and those supporting them might encounter along the way. Possible scenarios are presented and described vividly, with the individual’s rights clearly laid out, and practical suggestions about how to listen and respond to professionals when their views differ from those of the woman and her supporters.” Becky Reed, Midwife and Author.\n“Dr Sara Wickham is renowned for writing fabulous books full of evidence-based information about options in maternity care. How perfect that she has also written the ultimate guide to making decisions!” Rachel Reed, Midwife and Author.\n“Sara Wickham's wide knowledge and talent for clear and concise writing makes this book a valuable asset for any woman who wants solid information based on good evidence and to be confident and well informed in decision-making.” Ina May Gaskin, Midwife and Author.\n“This is a wonderful book. I love its chatty style and real respect for women’s rights.” Beverley Beech, Formerly Hon Chair, Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services.\n“One of the things I love and appreciate most about Dr. Sara Wickham besides her wonderfully warm heart is the way she’s able to probe, deconstruct, decipher, and translate the abstruse data and directives that swirl around the childbearing family and their care providers - empowering us to ask our questions and think things through from a variety of perspectives. Whether you’re preparing to give birth now or simply hope to one day do so, I enthusiastically recommend this book. Our inimitable Sara strikes again with a tool designed to help birthing women determine what they truly need and want for themselves and their babies amidst a cacophony of options and opinions.” Kim Osterholzer, Midwife.\n“Sara’s writing is clear and concise and this is an easy to read and understand book. However it certainly never dumbs down the subject matter as so many pregnancy books tend to. Learning properly about birth gives you options to shape your birth experience as you wish. I give this book as standard to all my clients. I heartily recommend it.” Melanie Bearne, Hypnotherapist and Hypnobirthing Teacher.

What's Right For Me?: Making decisions in pregnancy and childbirth

Have you been told that your pregnancy is high risk simply because you have a higher BMI? Have you been advised that you need extra tests and interventions, or that you have no choice about where you give birth? Do you feel pressured or scared into following this advice? Are you wondering whether higher BMI actually makes a difference and whether guidelines about higher BMI and birth are truly evidence based?\nIf your answer to any of these questions is “yes” then take a deep breath and read on, because this book is going to help you take back control.\nIn Plus Size Pregnancy, trusted researcher and bestselling author Dr Sara Wickham guides you through the evidence about higher BMI and birth, exposing the myths and assumptions, the broader issues, and the science behind what we do and don’t know.\n• Discover the eye-opening truth about why BMI is a poor measure of health, and why your size or shape has far less impact on your health than you might think. 
• Access real data relating to the potential risks of having a higher BMI during pregnancy, birth and beyond. 
• Learn from reliable, clear explanations of the evidence relating to the tests and interventions commonly recommended. 
• Arm yourself with tips on how to advocate for yourself and your baby. 
• Find out the surprising advantages of being larger and learn why some women with a higher BMI might have better outcomes.\nThis inspiring, science-filled book will help you to empower yourself, providing you with the evidence you need to make informed decisions about your pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Plus Size Pregnancy: What the evidence really says about higher BMI and birth

What is Vitamin K? Why is it offered to all newborn babies? Does my baby need it? Should we agree to an injection, oral supplements or decide to do neither? Are there alternatives? Can we postpone the decision? Are some babies more at risk, and why? Vitamin K has been routinely recommended for newborn babies for several decades, and many parents are happy for their child to be given this. But others want more information, have questions about why this intervention is offered or want to know whether there are downsides. This book guides the reader on a journey through the information, debate and research on this topic. It explains the issues and clarifies the different perspectives, drawing upon up-to-date midwifery and medical evidence and opinion and parents’ stories.

Vitamin K and the Newborn

The decisions that we make about pregnancy and childbirth can shape our experiences, health and lives, as well as those of our children and families. But many of those decisions are complex, confusing and made harder by the fact that we live in a world which is filled with options and opinions. This book is designed to help the reader think through their needs so that decision making becomes less daunting. It explains the different perspectives and approaches that people take towards childbirth and tips, tools and ways of thinking that will help you find the path that’s right for you.

Group B strep (or GBS) is a common and usually harmless type of bacteria, but it can very occasionally cause serious disease in newborn babies. Many pregnant women are offered screening and prevention for GBS, but there are pros and cons to this, as the main preventative (or prophylactic) measure involves women having antibiotics given to them by intravenous drip in labour. In this updated second edition of her popular book, Dr Sara Wickham discusses the different perspectives on GBS, the screening and prevention options that are available, the wider issues relating to this area, the alternative paths that some people take, the answers to parents' most frequently asked questions and more. Dr Sara Wickham is a midwife, educator and researcher. She is the author or editor of sixteen books, has edited three midwifery journals and provides in-person and online educational and consultancy services for midwifery and health-related organisations around the world. "Sara has written an excellent and important book. She has pulled all of the evidence (in its many forms) together into a comprehensive woman-centred resource. Sara's writing makes complex information accessible to all. I'd recommend this book to women, and anyone involved in caring for childbearing women. I learned lots." - Dr Rachel Reed, Midwifery Lecturer and Author of MidwifeThinking. "Sara has a remarkable ability to search through extensive amounts of research and to translate it into simple, easy to understand language. She has achieved that once again in this beautifully written book. The choices women face as they negotiate their births are challenging, but are always made easier by having accurate, easy to understand information. This is THE book to go to for everything you need to know about GBS." - Dr Kirsten Small, Obstetrician Gynaecologist.

Group B Strep Explained

Wickham, Dr Sara

When is it better to induce labour than to let a woman’s body or baby decide the best time for birth? What are the pros and cons of waiting and of being induced? What about after the due date? When the baby is thought to be bigger than average? When the woman is older? If she had IVF? Or when her waters have broken earlier than usual? Induction of labour is an increasingly common recommendation and more and more women find themselves having to decide whether to let their body and baby go into labour spontaneously or agree to medical intervention. This book explains the process of induction of labour and shares information from research studies, debates and women's, midwives' and doctors' experiences to help women and families become more informed and make the decision that is right for them.

Inducing Labour: making informed decisions

Have you ever thought about how the placenta is born? Did you know that there are actually three different approaches to the birth of the placenta within maternity care? Are you aware that research has shown significant advantages to the baby in taking a slower approach, however the placenta is born. Or that there is plenty of evidence to support a more natural approach for healthy women who would prefer that?This book has been written to help women make decisions about the birth of their placenta. We examine the different options, detail the evidence relating to each and discuss the wider context in which these decisions are made. No matter what kind of birth you are hoping for, this book will help you understand the different options.Dr Nadine Edwards and Dr Sara Wickham are world renowned and respected researchers and writers who have a long-standing interest in the birth of the placenta and the evidence relating to this. This is a completely revised and updated edition of their popular book on this topic.

Birthing Your Placenta: the third stage of labour

Edwards, Nadine

Fifty years ago, we learned that giving a medicine called Anti-D to childbearing women with rhesus negative blood could help protect their future babies from an age-old disease. But the same research which showed this also raised some tantalising questions, to which we still don't know all the answers. Today, rhesus negative women are offered Anti-D at several points during their pregnancy and birth journeys. Many would like to know more than they can read in the standard information leaflets on this topic. Many have questions about whether they really need this medicine. This book has been written to explain the issues, to answer key questions and to share information about what we do and do not know about Anti-D and related topics from research evidence and current thinking. Dr Sara Wickham is an author, speaker and researcher who has been writing and lecturing about Anti-D and pregnancy and birth related topics for more than twenty years. "Sara Wickham has found an original way to raise judicious yet unusual questions. Thanks to her exceptional capacity for lateral thinking she has developed the art of 'hitting the nail on the head'. The genuine pioneers are those who raise the right questions at the right time." Dr Michel Odent, Founder, Primal Health Research Centre. Foreword by Dr Michel Odent.

Anti-D Explained

Diseases & Physical Ailments

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Birthmoon Creations publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Birthmoon Creations

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Birthmoon Creations publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

In Your Own Time: How western medicine controls the start of labour and why this needs to stop

What's Right For Me?: Making decisions in pregnancy and childbirth

Plus Size Pregnancy: What the evidence really says about higher BMI and birth

Vitamin K and the Newborn

What's Right For Me?: Making decisions in pregnancy and childbirth

Group B Strep Explained

Inducing Labour: making informed decisions

Birthing Your Placenta: the third stage of labour

Anti-D Explained