In June 2007, NSW Health organised a statewide forum, Caesarean Section – Future Direction. The purpose of the multidisciplinary forum was to examine the rise in caesarean births within the public health system and to determine the future policy for caesarean birth in NSW. I, amongst others, asked to speak at the forum on
Understanding IVF and its process. Since Louise Brown, the world’s first IVF baby, was born in England in 1978. It is estimated that over a million babies have been born worldwide using some form of assisted reproductive technology. In Australia and New Zealand, 6816 babies were born in 2002. This is the result of
Pushed by Jennifer Block's Book Review Jennifer Block seems at first to be an unlikely person to write an expose on maternity care in the USA; after all she was the former editor of Ms Magazine. It soon becomes obvious that she is masterful at her craft and is the right woman for the
One in eight Australians…… Genital herpes is an extremely common disease with one in eight Australians carrying the virus. There is a lot of misinformation in the community about genital herpes and this means the psychological impact of the disease often outweighs the physical effects. Here are some facts: In reality, many herpes carriers
Much of our pre-existing knowledge about birth comes from the stories we have been exposed to from the time we were children. Sadly, these stories are rarely positive birth stories. Women are often told horror stories about birth as soon as they become pregnant, if not before. The new Australian book, Birth Journeys: positive birth
If you have recently learned that your baby is presenting breech (when the buttocks or the feet are at the bottom of the uterus rather than the head), you are likely to be feeling upset and confused. Regardless of how straightforward your pregnancy has been to date, your maternity care providers are likely to
31.10.12 at 1:49pm (Xander Blake Bromwich: 39wks 4 days) 3.54kg - 52.5cm - Head 34cm Saturday 27th:Â I notice many changes such as tender breasts and mucus turning from whitish to the fertile raw egg white kind. Sunday there was a bloody show (light pink tinge to the mucus). I remember telling Jaymes about
Placentophagy, consumption of one’s own placenta, is undergoing a small revival in Western culture. Numerous benefits to maternal health and wellbeing have be purported by placentophagy. These include specific hormones and nutrients which may be derived from ingestion, benefits for nutrition, the prevention of postnatal depression and increased lactation. However research in support of
In Australia, in the past ten years, contraceptive choices for women have increased significantly. Women continue to seek a wide range of contraceptive options and they increasingly want to be fully informed and in control of their fertility. Research indicates that women’s primary concerns when choosing contraception are that it is effective and has
Newborn bloodspot screening is offered to all newborn babies born in Australia. This screen involves pricking your baby’s heel between 48 and 72 hours following birth and putting this blood on a little white card made of special filter paper. Tests are carried out on the blood sample. The newborn bloodspot screening test can
