Women these days are taking longer to give birth than in the 1960s. According to recent research, one of the main reasons is greater levels of medical intervention, specifically the use of epidural anaesthesia. The research is based on the childbirth experiences of women in the United States. I can remember watching an episode of ...
Controversy has erupted over women’s bodies in Britain this week. Pregnant women’s bodies, in particular. In other words, a very personal time in a woman’s life, yet one that causes all manner of people to come out of the woodwork with advice, opinions and unsolicited touching of the bump. A new report by the National ...
It was inevitable that there were difficulties, but luckily, they were mostly technical. Nancy Salgueiro successfully delivered a six pound, 10 ounce boy at 3:18 a.m on Sunday. It was live-streamed online, as it happened, to an audience of 2000 people. She is a childbirth educator and wanted to share her experience to dispel some ...
Another medical group has said that women should not have the right to home birth in certain circumstances. There is so much condescension among doctors towards pregnant women I have to wonder where it will all end. Will they be caged like animals and monitored by nicotine and alcohol bracelets like criminals? The Lancet, a ...
The current trend of women delaying childbirth until their 30s and even 40s on a regular basis has impacts for society as a whole. One of these may be that we will evolve to have children naturally at a later age. Personally, I’m skeptical. Researchers at the University of Sheffield studied marriage and birth trends since the ...
Choosing to give birth at home is often considered dangerous because of the problems that might arise. But many women want to avoid unnecessary medical interventions and be in an environment where they feel they have control. But do they really have control? And is it really a safe option? There have been few studies into ...
The World Health Organization has withdrawn its recommendation that no more than 10 to 15 per cent of babies be born by Caesarean section. Is this a silent acknowledgment that c-sections are a legitimate alternative to a natural birth? I certainly hope not. The number of Caesarean sections in the world is climbing, and in ...
So, we’re having this baby. It’s due in a few weeks and we’re trying to get organized with all...
I recently heard about what is claimed to be the rising phenomenon of Japanese men remaining virgins for longer...
Ladders. Patriarchal conspiracy. I’ll explain… This week I climbed a ladder. I was trying to reach a loft space,...
Dear Madame X, My boyfriend needs to look at porn while we have sex. It bothers me because I...
Mrs. Dalloway is yet another feminist classic that I had to grow into. Wrapped up in Woolf’s instantly recognizable...
Last week saw a Big Thing come to our soggy little island. Well, it was a Big Thing for...
Last weekend I was entertaining a guest, you know, the sort I was planning to have lots and lots...
All little girls want to be princesses… right?! It’s bad enough that toy aisles are separated out by what...
