Big babies. It's not uncommon for the conversation about your baby's size to open up recommendations around induction, planned sections and other interventions.

Today, we’re unpacking exactly what’s behind the “big baby” label - and more importantly, what the evidence says about induction, outcomes, and whether this label should influence your birth decisions at all. We get into some examples of what the stats mean in terms of actual numbers, and explore the complexity of labels within the healthcare system.

A little disclaimer:

As a doula, my passion and focus is always helping women understand their options, protect their rights as human beings, and helping them feel powerful - whatever their birth looks like. Whilst this podcast is not designed as medical advice, it is focused on helping you have a curious approach to the things that are recommended and ensuring that your rights are protected and upheld. I’m not here to tell you what to do with your body or your birth. My goal is to help you feel informed and confident, so you can make decisions that feel right for you. Always be sure to do your own research, and trust your gut, too.

Lived experiences of women matter. The way we feel and our mental health during our birth experiences is incredibly important, and policy is not law. You are well within your legal and human rights to explore if the care you are receiving is right for YOU.

Sara Wickham

Rachel Reed

Midwives Cauldron Podcast

Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

Some research too:

Cochrane Review

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

✨ Download the My Pocket Doula App® – your go-to guide for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support

👩‍🍼 Work with me 1:1 or explore birth prep options

📸 Follow on Instagram: @journeyaheaddoula

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In a world where the c-section rate is increasing more than ever, I find lots of women are in search of a positive VBAC or sometimes even VBA2C story. Navigating the NHS when seeking this type of birth can be fraught with red tape and so working with Jordan and seeing the commitment she put into stacking the odds in her favour was awe-inspiring.

I'm so grateful to Jordan for sharing her story - from sharing the work she did to work through trauma, to connecting with her instincts, to leveraging the support around her. If you are expecting, even if not planning a VBAC, this is a must-listen. Jordan's joy and connectedness to her body and her baby makes this birth story a must-listen!

As always, thank you to Jordan and the other women who come forward to share their birth stories. You're changing the course of herstory by making these powerful experiences for all to hear.

Rachel Reed Post

Midwives Cauldron VBAC Episode

Podcast with Rachel Reed on Instinctive Birth

Sara Wickham VBAC Archives

✨ Download the My Pocket Doula App® – your go-to guide for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support

👩‍🍼 Work with me 1:1 or explore birth prep options

📸 Follow on Instagram: @journeyaheaddoula

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back after a little break! So wonderful to be bringing you doula chats this season - musings and educational solo episodes designed to help you feel powerful and prepared through your pregnancy, birth and parenting journey.

For the first episode of series 4 I'm opening with my musings on the current maternity system and the many layers of reasons why so many people plan for an intervention-free birth and end up being wheeled into theatre for an emergency. In this episode I explore some of the themes impacting maternity care, why it's not as simple as saying 'birth is safer now' and what you can do, whilst pregnant, to advocate for yourself to receive personalised, supportive care.

A little disclaimer:

As a doula, my passion and focus is always helping women understand their options, protect their rights as human beings, and helping them feel powerful - whatever their birth looks like. Whilst this podcast is not designed as medical advice, it is focused on helping you have a curious approach to the things that are recommended and ensuring that your rights are protected and upheld.

Risk perception within the National Health Service (NHS) is not a uniform or purely objective assessment. Instead, it is a highly subjective, multi-dimensional process shaped by a complex interplay of individual, organisational, clinical, and external factors. These factors can lead to significant discrepancies between how risks are perceived by staff, managers, and patients, affecting safety, care delivery, and decision-making.

Lived experiences of women matter. The way we feel and our mental health during our birth experiences is incredibly important, and policy is not law. You are well within your legal and human rights to explore if the care you are receiving is right for YOU.

Birth Rights

AIMS

✨ Download the My Pocket Doula App® – your go-to guide for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support

👩‍🍼 Work with me 1:1 or explore birth prep options

📸 Follow on Instagram: @journeyaheaddoula

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.