The Obs Pod

What  is a BBA? What do we mean by born before arrival and how frequently does it happen? What are the options for women that may have experienced this in the past?


Want to know more?
https://www.britishjournalofmidwifery.com/content/supervision/born-before-arrival-supervision-in-action/
https://www.maternityandmidwifery.co.uk/homebirth/
https://www.birthrights.org.uk/factsheets/unassisted-birth/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-42030812

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in t...

Today I am talking about unstable lie when a baby is moving around loads at the end of pregnancy instead of settling to head down.

Want to know more?
https://fn.bmj.com/content/99/Suppl_1/A112.3
https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/3wykswng/gtg-50-umbilicalcordprolapse-2014.pdf
https://www.spinningbabies.com/when-a-person-is-told-they-have-an-unstable-lie/

You may need an organisational or institutional log is to access the full text
https://www.ejog.org/article/S0301-2115(17)30593-6/fulltext

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am...

Chickenpox or varicella is a common infection , what happens if you get it in pregnancy or your child does?

Want to know more?
https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/y3ajgkda/gtg13.pdf
https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-all-patient-information-leaflets/chickenpox-and-pregnancy-patient-information-leaflet/

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and birth. If you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast...

Water can be used for pain relief during labour and giving birth. It has incredible benefits but why are only approximately 10% of women using water ? do we truly provide access to a birthing pool for all women? In light of the evidence of its positive effects shouldnt we be looking at this?

Want to know more?
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/7/e056517
https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/giving-birth/where-can-i-give-birth/how-prepare-water-birth
https://www.nct.org.uk/labour-birth/your-pain-relief-options/water-births-and-labouring-water-questions-answered
 

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I...

This episode is out a day early to celebrate International Day of The Midwife 2023.
It's a chat with my colleague and friend Kate Greenstock , all about her newly published book 'Flourish: A practical and emotional guidebook to thriving in midwifery'
The book is just what it says it is, first acknowledging the emotional and psychological work of midwifery or any maternity staff for that matter, combined with heaps of practical ideas that may help us.

Want to know more?
https://www.flourishformidwives.com/

Kate can be found @wildrubiescoach on twitter and instagram<...

Here I discuss what do we mean by a low lying placenta or placenta praevia & how can  are for women with this pregnancy complication to keep them and their baby safe.

Want to know more?
https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-complications/low-lying-placenta-placenta-praevia
https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-all-patient-information-leaflets/placenta-praevia-placenta-accreta-and-vasa-praevia/
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/what-happens/placenta-complications/

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and b...

This week I am talking to the fabulous midwife Rosie Murphy about her Dazi project: 'Improving outcomes for women from minoritised ethnic backgrounds'. We discuss how a new approach is needed by not only maternity services but the wider NHS.

Want to know more?
Rosie's 3 blogs about her project
https://healthinnovationnetwork.com/insight/partnering-with-minoritised-women-to-improve-maternal-outcomes/
https://healthinnovationnetwork.com/insight/recommendations-for-improving-perinatal-health-inequalities/
https://healthinnovationnetwork.com/insight/maternal-inequality-trying-to-change-structural-issues/
Rosie's previous interview with Gill Phillips
https://whoseshoes.buzzsprout.com/1838805/12096718
E learning for health
https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Catalogue/Index?HierarchyId=0_58160_58165_57464&programmeId=58160

...

We are always asking women about their baby's movements, why is that and what is considered normal?

Want to know more?
https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/2gxndsd3/gtg_57.pdf
https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-all-patient-information-leaflets/your-babys-movements-in-pregnancy-patient-information-leaflet/
https://www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/counting-the-kicks
Resources for women with a range of translations
https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/health-professionals/free-pregnancy-resources/leaflet-and-banner-feeling-your-baby-move-sign-they-are-well
https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/pregnancy-birth/babies-movements/

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising...

As obstetricians we can be ignorant of infant feeding issues and its not our fault incredible as it seems we have no training in this and it turns out loads of other professional don't either. To help me discuss this sometimes tricky issue I am joined by Lyndsey Hookway lactation consultant,  researcher and author.

Want to know more?
https://courses.abm.support/courses/team-baby-getting-ready-to-breastfeed/ course for parents and family
https://kellymom.com/ fact sheets and advice
https://www.laleche.org.uk/ find local support
https://llli.org/  resources

https://courses.abm.su...

This week I am chatting to Teri Gavin-Jones about her work on health inequality and her journey with community partners resulting in a fantastic resource of cultural curiosity films titled 'It's Ok to ask'. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Want to explore more?
You can watch all the videos here
https://vimeo.com/user146271099/videos

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy...

To mark international women's day on 8th March I am discussing the recent WHO report of trends in global maternal mortality.

Want to know more?

https://www.who.int/news/item/23-02-2023-a-woman-dies-every-two-minutes-due-to-pregnancy-or-childbirth--un-agencies

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240068759

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and birth. If you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on...

I have been doing some training to be ready for the new NHS Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF). In this episode I reflect on what I have learnt and what the challenges there may be as we implement this new way of learning from incidents.

You may also like to listen to Episode 13 Mistakes

Want to know more?
https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/incident-response-framework/
https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/30/11/901
https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/62346
https://www.hsib.org.uk/investigation-education/our-courses/

Thank...

FGM or female genital mutilation can be a tricky topic that we feel uncomfortable talking to women about. Here I sign post some useful NHS training and resources and remind people its the little things , kindness and compassion that will make a difference to these difficult conversations.

Want to know more?
Information
https://www.forwarduk.org.uk/violence-against-women-and-girls/female-genital-mutilation/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIno3sl_Kc_QIVxN_tCh2rVwaDEAAYASAAEgLdwfD_BwE
https://www.building-bridges-training.org/fgm-14-page-easy-read-information-leaflet
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/female-genital-mutilation-fgm/
Training
https://www...

Last summer August 2022 I gave a TEDxNHS talk. I wanted to bring the perspective of women giving birth but also that of the obstetricians and other maternity staff to try and encourage collaboration to find the sweet spot bringing safety and a positive birth experience together. The result is my talk 'Birth should be special'

This episode is an introduction to my talk, why I wanted to talk in the first place, how I prepared for it and what I hoped my message would be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZwNjDe9qGE

...

Cord blood is actually an inaccurate description, this is the baby's blood.
Here I am exploring the timing of cutting the umbilical cord and the impact this can have on the baby's health.

Want to know more?
https://www.bloodtobaby.com/
https://www.cochrane.org/CD004074/PREG_effect-timing-umbilical-cord-clamping-term-infants-mother-and-baby-outcomes
https://www.cochrane.org/CD003248/PREG_does-delaying-cord-clamping-or-using-cord-milking-birth-improve-health-babies-born-too-early
https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/cord-blood-bank/

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during...

Today I am joined by two very special guests to discuss City of Sanctuary Maternity Stream. Katherine is a midwife and Wan is a woman seeking sanctuary. We discuss some of the barriers vulnerable women face seeking maternity care and some very simple ways we can put them at ease.

Want to know more?
There are some fantastic videos and resources for maternity services here
https://cdn.cityofsanctuary.org/uploads/sites/45/2022/11/MATERNITY-RESOURCE-PACK-24-10-22-ammended-links.pdf
https://maternity.cityofsanctuary.org/
https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Maternity-care-in-the-UK-for-women-on-asylum-support-print-version_July_2021.pdf
https://www...

Each year the Care Quality Commission surveys experiences of maternity care in England.  Here I take a look and discuss the lateset results published last week.

Want to know more?
https://www.cqc.org.uk/publication/surveys/maternity-survey-2022

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and birth. If you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider.
If you h...

What is meconium? Why do we worry about meconium in the waters during labour?

Want to know more?
https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/1185
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD012671.pub2/full
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg190/ifp/chapter/if-there-is-meconium-during-labour

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and birth. If you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast...

As we start the new year I thought I would build on previous episodes 23 & 24 on language by discussing Re:Birth a project looking at language by the Royal College of Midwives in collaboration with other maternity organisations published in Summer 2022.

Want to know more:
https://www.rcm.org.uk/rebirth-hub/rebirth-summary-2022/
https://www.rcm.org.uk/media/6228/rebirth-method-and-technical-report.pdf
https://www.rcm.org.uk/media/6327/rebirth-final-full-report-july-2022.pdf

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both...

As we hit the festive season join me and my great friend Gill Phillips of the wildcard whose shoes podcast as we reflect on 2022 and have a little fun.
Thank you for listening throughout 2022, see you next year!

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and birth. If you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider.
If...

What is Fetal Blood Sampling? How did we do it , and why I think it should it be abandoned if you haven't already stopped this procedure?

Want to know more?
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/gid-ng10174/documents/draft-guideline
https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aogs.12416
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006174.pub3/full

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg190/ifp/chapter/if-electronic-monitoring-is-needed#fetal-blood-sampling

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care...

Are there four types of pelvis, that's what we are taught but is it true? Are we sometimes misinforming women about their pelvic shape and ability to give birth?

Want to know more?

https://optimalbirth.co.uk/index.php/courses-and-availability

Thank you all for listening, My name is Florence Wilcock I am an NHS doctor working as an obstetrician, specialising in the care of both mother and baby...

The episode is out on Thursday this week in honour of World Prematurity Day 17th Nov  when we focus on the fact  the worldwide 1 baby in every 10 is born prematurely.

Find out all about in utero transfers, what are they,  why do we transfer between hospitals, and what do they  involve?

Want to know more?

https://www.londonneonatalnetwork.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IN-UTERO-LEAFLET-Final-v1-1.pdf
https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/premature-birth/giving-birth-to-your-premature-baby/utero-transfer-neonatal-unit

This episode covers Sepsis  & the sepsis six the mainstay of  initial treatment for this serious life threatening illness. Warning this episode contains mentions of maternal death and baby loss.

Want to know more?
https://sepsistrust.org/
https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/ea1p1r4h/gtg_64a.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/group-a-streptococcal-infections-guidance-and-data#management-

Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider. Do explore my back catalogue of episodes and fe...

I can't believe I have managed to neglect the topic of a small baby up to this point especially given Episode 29 Big baby is now my most popular episode. Join me to rectify this omission as I discuss what we think about when a baby is small , and what do we mean by small anyway?

Want to know more?
https://www.isuog.org/static/b2aa3fb4-031e-4d84-b7246d613a466884/ISUOG-Practice-Guidelines-diagnosis-and-management-of-small-for-gestational-age-fetus-and-fetal-growth-restriction.pdf
https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/t3lmjhnl/gtg_31.pdf
All about obstetric dopplers:
 https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.c...

It is a difficult time in maternity care in the UK, last week saw the release of the report into East Kent Maternity services 'Reading the signals' which has lessons for us all.
Join me as I digest and think about this report and the previous reports of  maternity services failing families and think a little about where we go from here.

Want to know more?
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1111992/reading-the-signals-maternity-and-neonatal-services-in-east-kent_the-report-of-the-independent-investigation_print-ready.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/final-report-of-the-ockenden-review

Thank y...

Have you wondered what it would be like practicing maternity care in a low or middle income country? What if you went to do that, and then found yourself in the middle of an Ebola Epidemic? Here I chat to Benjamin Black about his fascinating book Belly Woman , about his experiences of working in Sierra Leone and his reflections on differences and similarities with challenges in the UK.

Want to know more?
https://www.rescue.org/sites/default/files/document/4416/srhebolareport1172020.pdf
Belly Woman: Birth, Blood & Ebola: The Untold Story
by Amazon https://www...

Meet Sunita Sharma a consultant in O&G with a passion for all things postnatal. Take a listen to the innovative work she is  doing to improve postnatal care  at her own hospital and across London. I am hoping our conversation will inspire plenty of ideas for postnatal improvement work. Sunita can be found on twitter @SunitaS2016

Want to know more?
https://www.beyondbirthlivinglibrary.org/
https://solvingtogether.crowdicity.com/post/3817137?sortBy=newest&forMilestone=0&forPhase=0&search=postnatal

Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, re...

It is Baby Loss Awareness week 2022. In its 20th year the aims are: Remembrance, Raise Awareness & Drive Change. This year the theme is 'Stepping stones' looking at the journey parents face after a baby dies. I have chosen to compliment this with some thoughts on the stepping stones a professional takes when looking after a family in these circumstances.

Want to know more?
https://babyloss-awareness.org/

Also check out the following relevant episodes if you haven't already listened to them:
Episode 26 Baby Loss Awareness week 2020
Episode 75 Signs of Life
Episode 66 Group...

What are medical conferences for? Are they just an excuse for some fun or do they add value?
Here I explore a bit about why there are so many medical conferences and share some thoughts about which conferences I find helpful to my practice.

Want to know more?

https://bicsoc.org.uk/

Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider. Do explore my back catalogue of episodes and feel free to get in touch...

Have you read the FiveXmore Black Maternity Experience Survey published this year? If you haven't and you work in maternity then its essential reading. Here I discuss why its so valuable and my thoughts on some of the results.

Want to know more?

https://www.fivexmore.com/blackmereport
https://www.fivexmore.com/6steps

Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider. Do explore my back catalogue of episodes and feel free to get in...

Today I am discussing if the age a woman is when she become pregnant is important? Find out some stats and definitions of how age can have an impact on pregnancy outcomes for both mother and baby.

Want to know more?
https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tog.12710
https://www.rcog.org.uk/guidance/browse-all-guidance/scientific-impact-papers/induction-of-labour-at-term-in-older-mothers-scientific-impact-paper-no-34/
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/birthcharacteristicsinenglandandwales/2020#age-of-parents

 

Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast o...

My attention has recently been drawn to a report - The 'so what' of maternity data. Join me as I discuss my thoughts & reflections on the report as well as how we may equip ourselves better to understand data and make it useful.

Want to know more:
https://www.hqip.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/The-So-What-of-Maternity-Data-report-FINAL.pdf
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/making-data-count-getting-started-2019.pdf
https://www.goldacrereview.org/

Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on...

Are we obsessed with blood clots , thrombosis in pregnancy? Why do we worry & what can we do about them.

Want to explore more?
Reducing the risk of venous thrombosis in pregnancy and after birth patient information leaflet | RCOG
gtg-37b-1.pdf (rcog.org.uk)
gtg-37a.pdf (rcog.org.uk)
Antenatal venous thromboembolism - Crosby - 2021 - The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist - Wiley Online Library
https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/assets/downloads/mbrrace-uk/reports/maternal-report-2021/MBRRACE-UK_Maternal_Report_2021_-_FINAL_-_WEB_VERSION.pdf
https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/12/1/11/259953
...

When should you or shouldn't you travel during pregnancy ? What are the issues you need to consider when planning a trip whether it be for work, family or holiday, home or abroad?

Want to know more?

https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/lrupol45/air-travel-update_v4.pdf
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/travelling/
https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/general-travel-health-advice/pregnant-travellers

Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider. Do explore my back...

Do you know your anatomy? When we doctors and midwives use the word perineum do you know what we are talking about? Here I explore some research on the level of knowledge people have about female body parts.

Wan to know more?
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/may/30/most-britons-cannot-name-parts-vulva-survey
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00192-021-04727-9
https://eveappeal.org.uk/news-awareness/know-your-body-education-programme/

Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider. Do explore...

Why do we screen for HIV in pregnancy ? Here I give a little thought to women who are pregnant and HIV positive and how much their care has changed over the course of my career.

Want to know more?

https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-all-patient-information-leaflets/hiv-and-pregnancy-patient-information-leaflet/
https://www.bhiva.org/file/5f1aab1ab9aba/BHIVA-Pregnancy-guidelines-2020-3rd-interim-update.pdf
https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my podcast on your podcast provider...

Can you run in pregnancy &how do you get back into running afterwards? Here I chat to Megan doing a PhD on running postpartum, what advice is there, do we know about it & how could we be more supportive & encouraging?

Please help if you are>18yrs, had a baby in the last 2years & ran at least 30min a  week pre pregnancy by answering Megan's e survey
https://cardiffmet.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cHC95M4ejaiVlki

Guidance : https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Grainne-Donnelly/publication/335928424_Returning_to_running_postnatal_-_guidelines_for_medical_health_a...

What are platelets, why are they important and why do you get packed off to the obstetrician if your count is low? Here I talk about thrombocytopenia or low platelets & th eimplications.

Want to know more?

https://mft.nhs.uk/app/uploads/sites/4/2018/04/Remifentanil-PCA-for-Women-in-Labour-October-2017.pdf
https://elearning.rcog.org.uk/sites/default/files/Haematological disorders/Myers_TOG_2009.pdf
https://yourhealth.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/library/women-s-children-s/obstetrics/28-234-062018-low-platelets-in-pregnancy/file

Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate, review and recommend my...

I have previously discussed caesarean birth in Episode 11 a bit about how my thinking and practice in Caesarean birth has change dover the years. I have also talked about caesarean rates in Episode 39. This week join me as a guest on the Birth-Ed podcast as I talk all things caesarean birth, why you might need one, why you might choose one and what to expect on the day.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/615412/10825792-caesarean-birth-with-consultant-obstetrician-florence-wilcock
https://birth-ed.co.uk/podcast

Thank you all for listening, if you have enjoyed my podcast please do continue to subscribe, rate...