In Bloom Birth and Wellness

02/18/2024

My heart is so full and today was so bittersweet. I say farewell for now, but will see you again I hope soon!

01/26/2024

01/04/2024

I'm starting 2024 with an important reminder...

"The job of guideline and policy writers is merely to recommend that something be offered.

It is up to the recipients of any type of care to decide whether or not they want an intervention, and yet it is very clear that women are not always being given the information that will enable them to make an informed decision."

This applies to every aspect of maternity care and, in fact, to health care generally.

It’s something I talk about a lot in What’s Right For Me: making decisions in pregnancy and childbirth.

We’re not going to get away from the fact that systems, including systems of health and maternity care, need rules and pathways and guidelines based on population-level evidence in order to function.

If we didn’t have somewhere to start from, there would be chaos.

But those pathways and guidelines exist to tell professionals what to offer.

As an individual who is using that system, you don’t have to follow the recommendation or pathway or guideline if it’s not right for you.

Find details about my work, that book (along with my others on aspects of birth-related decision making) and hundreds of free articles at www.sarawickham.com/me

01/04/2024

There is risk in everything we do. Leaving your house and getting into a car is a risk we accept every day without thinking. But we have to stop allowing the fear language pushed into the birthing space to make us so very fearful of a beautiful process that doesn’t need intervention for most women. Dr. Sara Wickham says we need to change our language to Chance instead of risk. I agree that it changes the conversation help lessen the fear. What is the chance I may need to have a c-section? What is the chance my baby may need a NICU? Look at the real statistics and don’t allow biased language to make the decision for you.

Then we must realize when we allow ourselves to be pushed and coerced by fear into elective inductions, unnecessary cesareans, more testing, all the extra surveillance; we have often given up the ability to have a physiological labor and birth. Then the chances of your body or baby having more interventions increases quickly.

When I was pregnant and planning a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), I had a friend ask me, “Why would you want to risk it?” It struck me as an odd question. Would she ask the same question if I had been planning a repeat c-section (RCS)? I think her question highlighted the mindset that most...

10/21/2023

4 births in 4 days! I am tired, but so thrilled for these wonderful families!

10/07/2023

I love my vocation. Women are so powerful! I am awed and inspired everyday at the love, determination and spirit I get to encounter.

Birth is so beautiful, but Home Birth is something so special to behold.

Thank you for all those who have supported and trusted in me. I am deeply grateful. Love my mamas, Daddies and babies so very much.