While sepsis is considered to be a preventable cause of maternal death, it continues to be a major cause of women dying during or after childbirth, even in Australia.
Live birth has evolved independently more than 150 times. The underlying biophysical processes all look quite similar, but new research shows they use completely different genetic tools.
On International Women’s Day, two women writers discuss feminism, writing in the age of Trump and Covid – and being ‘flabbergasted’ by the absence of birth from Western art and philosophy.
On Father’s Day, a scholar of ancient Greek poetry explains how he came to understand the father-son relationship and his journey of loss and yearning through reading the epics.
Induction of labour can be life-saving in some situations. But women are increasingly induced for non-medical reasons, and earlier in their pregnancies.
Many women are turning away from hospital births during the pandemic, preferring to give birth at home. But midwives aren’t always available to support them. So some are birthing without one.
While identical twins are seen more as an accidental splitting of a single egg, there could be a good reason mothers produce non-identical twins from two separate eggs.
The three-toed skink can give birth to live young and lay eggs in the same pregnancy. What can this little critter teach us about the evolution of live birth?
By six months, the vast majority of parents have bonded with their baby.
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Hypnobirthing aims to reduce fear and pain during childbirth. But while the evidence suggests it’s associated with decreased use of some pain medications, it doesn’t affect epidural rates.
Many American women are having children later in life.
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The Hyde Amendment bans federal abortion funding for most people.
Although polyamorous families provide great support for themselves internally, they report experiencing marginalization within the health-care system and fear of judgment by health-care providers.
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Having multiple romantic partners also offers greater financial and logistical support when raising children, according to research with polyamorous families.
Demand for midwifery services across Canada is now much greater than midwives can currently provide.
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The benefits of midwifery for women and babies globally are clear. In Canada, innovations in midwifery centres and services are tempered by low pay and high rates of burnout.
Delivering a human baby – which has a large, highly developed brain – is risky for mother and baby.
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