Relax Stretch & Breathe

27/07/2026

For any one who’s interested xx

20/07/2026

🤰🏾🔮Birth Balls By 🔮🧘🏽‍♀️

Do you use Birth Balls in your hospital?

📖 Positive effects of birthing balls supported by studies -

1. Reduction in labour pain (subjective experience)

• Some systematic reviews and trials also support a statistically significant decrease in pain during the active stage of labour when a birth ball is used.
• A trial among primigravidae (first-time mothers) reported lower VAS pain scores in those who used birthing ball exercises versus controls.
• Another RCT found that birth ball use improved childbirth self-efficacy (i.e. confidence in coping) and reduced pain.

2. Shortening of labour / improved labour progression

• Several studies report that use of a birth ball is associated with shorter first-stage labour, faster cervical dilation, or faster descent of the fetal head.
• A recent meta-analysis (2025) concluded that birthing ball exercises reduce cesarean rates, alleviate labour pain, and shorten the first stage of labour.

3. Increased maternal satisfaction, sense of control, and psychological benefits

• Several studies report that women using a birth ball report greater satisfaction, less anxiety, more sense of control, and empowerment in labour.
• The self-efficacy study (Gau et al.) showed improved confidence in ability to cope with labour.

4. Potential effect on cesarean delivery rates / mode of delivery.

• A 2025 meta-analysis suggests that birth ball exercises may reduce cesarean section rates.

5. Safety and no obvious adverse effects

• Meta-analyses and systematic reviews, generally report no increased risk of adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes associated with birth ball use.

midwives maternity midwifelife doula childbirth birthing labornurse pregnancy pregnant

29/06/2026

A membrane sweep ( stretch and sweep) is not an alternative to induction of labour.

I know people try to sell it as if this were the case.

"Have a stretch and sweep," they say (though often in a more coercive way. I choose to model the language I'd like to hear.) "It might save you from an induction."

Well, it might save you from an INPATIENT induction, yes.

(Although membrane sweeping isn't very effective. It has downsides as well, so as with everything you may want to weigh up the pros and cons before you decide what's right for you.)

But membrane sweeping is a way of trying to induce labour.

So it IS a form of induction.

Induction of labour is when we try and bring the birth on sooner than would have happened naturally, if we had left things alone.

So so-called 'natural induction,' where people try to use holistic therapies to bring on labour?

Also a form of induction.

(Also not very effective, so do your homework).

I think there's a need to recognise that there are two elements to induction.

(1) the fact that we're trying to bring labour on earlier than the baby might have chosen

(Because yes, although we have more to learn about this, we're confident that it's babies who decide when labour starts.)

and (2) the means and methods by which we do that.

Many people find membrane sweeping and holistic therapies more palatable than the idea of the pharmaceutical and/or mechanical induction methods that are used in hospital inpatient induction.

I totally get that.

And if it's what you want, then go for it.

But let's call it what it is.

A form of induction.

There's loads of information about membrane sweeping and other forms of induction on my website.

https://www.sarawickham.com/induction

26/06/2026

26/06/2026

25/06/2026

I have updated one of the oldest - but also most useful - blog posts on my site.

Nearly 25 years ago, I wrote about the BRAN analysis in the first edition of What's Right For Me?

Since then, the acronym has expanded into several different versions. It has come to be used by thousands of women and families, and is taught and shared by midwives and birth workers around the globe.

My blog post is short and simple. It explains what the acronym is, how it can be used, and I offer a link to my book for those who want more information to help them navigate maternity care.

And now it has had a spring clean, and been made a shiny new picture!

Read it at https://www.sarawickham.com/questions-and-answers/what-is-the-bran-analysis/

And please share it with anyone who you think might find it useful.