Wendy Jackson, mother and retired midwife with 30 years' experience in the UK and Australian maternity care systems, has a lot to say about the massive cultural, social and political issues that surround the world of birth. <br />Main topics covered:<br /><ul><li>the importance of honouring and protecting the postnatal period/4th trimester, also known as matrescence,</li><li>women need to know the realities of the maternity system, as well as their incredible biology and how to protect its optimal functioining in the system,</li><li>defensive, interventionist (and often unquestioned) practices that have evolved over the millenia, especially over the last 100 years.</li><li>a resource she has developed for women navigating the perinatal period - her book "Mother Becoming".</li></ul>Other references mentioned:<br /><ul><li>Prof. Archie Cochrane "the father of evidence based medicine" who jokingly awarded obstetrics with the "wooden spoon".</li><li>Jenny Allenson "The Golden Month"</li><li>Transforming Maternity Care Initiative</li><li>Dr Andrew Bissets, featured in "Birth Time"</li><li>Human Rights in Childbirth</li><li>Dr Carol de Costa "The Women's Doc" first professor of obs/gyn in Australia</li><li>Robbie Davis Floyd</li></ul>NOTE: At 15 mins 51 secs, when referring to Dr Liz Fowler "trying to get vaginal birth in", she neglected to include the word "breech", so "trying to get vaginal BREECH birth in".<br /><br />Copyright 2025 PBB Media and Sally Cusack<br />All rights reserved.