Are people born by caesarean section more likely to be obese?

A study recently published in the British Medical Journal (project Viva) has found that children born by caesarean section have a higher rate of obesity at age three than children born naturally. At first…

24 April 2012

Rh6mzxkm-1334727180 — Pregnancies are much less risky than they used to be. Malingering

Take the pressure down – pregnancy doesn’t have to be so stressful

By Monique Robinson, University of Western Australia

Advances in medical science and technology have significantly reduced the risk of serious complications and death during pregnancy and birth. You’d think this would make mums-to-be more relaxed than they…

10 April 2012

H7whs9q9-1333602174 — We might expect dramatic sex ratio fluctuations when a whole population experiences extreme food shortages. Teeejayy

Little China girls: how history’s worst famine shifted the sex ratio

By Rob Brooks

People often ask me whether natural selection continues to operate on modern humans in industrialised societies, even though technology has liberated so many from hunger and early death. My answer is always…

9 February 2012

K7ztzqft-1328754930 — Home births for high-risk pregnancies and where a registered midwife isn’t present are risky. Deannster

For some women, unassisted home births are worth the risks

By Hannah Dahlen, University of Western Sydney and Melanie Jackson, University of Western Sydney

We live in a world with many different perspectives on risk. Entire professions now exist to advise us on how to recognise, avoid and manage risk. And the maternity and obstetric professions are no different…

5 January 2012

2669z7hv-1324251661 — Many extremely premature babies will have lifelong physical and intellectual deficiencies. kqedquest

Balancing hope and fear for babies born at 24 weeks gestation

By Janet Green, University of Technology, Sydney

Imagine how frightening it must be for a woman to go into labour when she is just over halfway through her pregnancy and her baby has only had 23 or 24 weeks to grow. She and her family are overcome with…

22 November 2011

Methyl_lives — Government restrictions on midwife-led care make it difficult for women to have a home birth. Methyl lives

Comfortable, safe and in control: why women should have the option to give birth at home

By Heather Hancock

Choosing where to give birth – whether in a public hospital, private facility or in the home – is a fundamental human right that should be available to all Australian women. But despite the Commonwealth…

9 September 2011

Mike.hanlon — One in three Australian women will give birth by caesarean but many don’t need to. Mike Hanlon

Is caesarean now the ‘normal’ way to give birth, and should we be worried?

By Caroline Homer, University of Technology, Sydney

There’s no doubt that caesarean sections are an essential procedure that can save the lives of women and babies. But around one in three Australian women will give birth by caesarean section – and that…