CTGs and well behaved women
The paper by Westergren et al. (2025) examined how gender norms played out in birth, emphasising the negative impact of “well behaved” women and midwives on birthing experiences.
Feminism
Whose CTG data is it?
There is a lack discussion surrounding the unconsented use of women’s clinical data for CTG analysis training in AI. Women should know when and how their data is being used, and benefit from their data use when corporations profit from it.
The importance of bread and roses too
In 1910, suffragist Helen Todd highlighted the importance of women’s voting rights for improving working conditions, coining the phrase “Bread for all, and Roses too.” While maternity services focus on physical health (Bread), there is a pressing need to enhance women’s emotional and experiential birth outcomes (Roses), fostering joy and meaning in the process.
Barbie’s friend Midge: What does she tell us about feminism?
I’ve only just recently been to see the Barbie movie. It was fun, pink, sparkly, with a beautifully realised portrayal of Barbie Land, and excellent music. My daughter and I watched it in a middle of the day, middle of the week sitting and had the luxury of having the entire cinema to ourselves with the exception of one other woman. Very handy when you might end up singing along! […]
Plans, preferences, maps: Getting the birth you want
I have a love-hate relationship with birth plans (by any name). Progressive standardisation of care means a woman entering maternity care systems risk being swept along with the current, her body being used to meet the organisation’s goals and priorities, not her own. Women who dare to hope for something different might be told they have “unrealistic expectations of the control they will have over the experience”, as the New […]
What is wrong with shared decision making?
I’m not saying the goal of shared decision making is inherently wrong – it’s simply too little and too late.
Feminist critiques of intrapartum CTG monitoring
Exploring the values, roles, and meanings attached to fetal monitoring.
Found it! The fascinating history of the discovery and rediscovery of the clitoris
The #clitoris has been “discovered” many times during the #history of #anatomy. Will it disappear again?
CTG monitoring is NOT mandatory: A request to writers
This is my regular reminder that CTG monitoring is a choice. Write like you believe this is true.
Why might midwives not support women’s choices?
The problem with guidelines is not that they exist nor that they play a role in structuring good practice. The problem is when guidelines over-reach their purpose.
Birth Small Talk 