Joy Horner - Birth Joy

06/08/2026

It's getting more and more difficult access midwifery care at homebirths around the world.

It's a clear reflection of how our culture value women and people who are pregnant because good midwifery care saves lives!

05/08/2026

So delighted to see this as RCOG policy, and much appreciation to authors, especially obstetrician Andrew Weeks who has been advocating for 'optimal cord management' for decades..
"The minutes after birth are now recognised as a time of remarkable change within the baby and we have learned that interfering with this natural process can cause potential harm...
Early cord clamping will result in the baby having a lower blood volume as it is estimated that a baby at full term will receive around 30% of its total blood volume from placental transfer via the umbilical cord. The decision on timing to clamp the umbilical cord should be based on observations of the baby, its heart rate and breathing rather than a predefined interval after birth. Also, the palpable pulsation of the cord is unrelated to the blood flowing back and forth therefore it should not be used to guide the time when clamping occurs. Clamping at the placental end allows some blood in the cord to transfer to the newborn. There are other benefits to the baby from the placental transfer of blood such as transfer of stem cells."
Free full text here https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1471-0528.70269?campaign=wolearlyview

05/08/2026

Phew!

Facebook have just lifted my restrictions after I shared content which broke their rules on nudity.

It's pretty hard to avoid sharing people giving birth in their natural state in this line of work😂

Let's see how long I can go before being restricted again 😅

05/08/2026

Babies are born, and they are not delivered!

Delivery is an outdated term to describe childbirth, which sounds like all the hard work was dome by someone other than the person who gave birth!

Even when we need caesarean or instrumental assistance, I still give full credit to the person from whose body the baby emerged.
We can refer to an instrumental birth or a caesarean birth.

The baby is still born, however it comes into the world. The baby also plays an active part in the process, so he deserves some credit, too! It is not a mere passenger or parcel or pizza that needs to be Delivered, unlike my new teaching doll.

This is actually my 4th teaching doll, and I still use the first 2 that I bought 23 years ago!

My first 2 are named Grace and Faith. I've yet to name this one, but I think it will be Hope. What do you think?

03/08/2026